IN THE HEADLINES

• Celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the Historic Centre of Macau on the UNESCO World Heritage List
• “What's on, Macau” mobile app
• Galaxy Macau completes its Phase II expansion with the opening of Asia's largest JW Marriott; the all-suite The Ritz-Carlton, Macau; and Broadway Macau 
• Meet Kai Kai and Xin Xin, the new residents of the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion
• Opening of Macau's first large scale 3D museum
• Hollywood-themed entertainment and Asia's highest Ferris wheel at Studio City
• Upcoming family  attraction: Planet J
• Summer and Autumn events in Macau

NEWS IN BRIEF

Celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the Historic Centre of Macau on the UNESCO World Heritage List

In July 2005, the Historic Centre of Macau was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its “unique testimony to the meeting of aesthetic, cultural, architectural and technological influences from East and West”. This month, Macau celebrates the 10th anniversary of this important landmark with a wide range of events, including seminars, exhibitions and a variety of cultural performances at the iconic Dom Pedro V Theatre by the Macao Orchestra and the Macao Chinese Orchestra, amongst others. New and renovated historic and cultural facilities have also opened to commemorate the milestone.

The Historic Centre of Macau boasts over 20 buildings and monuments of both Chinese and Portuguese origin which perfectly reflects Macau's unique East-meets-West history and culture. Further information can be found here.

“What's on, Macau” mobile app

Macau Government Tourist Office recently launched a mobile app to help visitors keep up-to-date with all the excitement going on in Macau. Under the name “What's On, Macau”, the app contains the destination's monthly highlights, including local events, festivals, exhibitions and shows. The app is available for iPhone and Android devices and its content can be viewed offline once downloaded. For further information and to download the “What's On, Macau” mobile app, please follow this link.

Galaxy Macau completes its Phase II expansion with the opening of Asia's largest JW Marriott; the all-suite The Ritz-Carlton, Macau; and Broadway Macau

On 27th May, three exciting new hotels opened their doors in Macau: JW Marriott Hotel Macau (Asia's largest); the all-suite The Ritz-Carlton, Macau; and family-friendly Broadway Macau – adding over 1,500 new rooms to the Galaxy Macau resort. This complex, which now features a total of six hotels and more than 3,800 rooms and suites, has also seen the opening of The Broadway and Broadway Theatre – a collection of over 40 local and Asian food bars and restaurants and a 3,000-seater entertainment auditorium, respectively. For further information please visit www.galaxymacau.com.

Also due to open before the end of 2015 will be Crowne Plaza Macau – with 208 modern guestrooms; and St. Regis Macau – featuring 400 additional hotel and apart-hotel rooms.*

Meet Kai Kai and Xin Xin, the new residents of the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion

A couple of new pandas have recently arrived in Macau: 6-year-old male Kai Kai and 7-year-old female Xin Xin. The new pandas, gifted by the government of the People's Republic of China and weighing about 110 kilos each, were presented to the public at the end of May and, in just a few days, became two of Macau's most loved inhabitants. Together with their housemate, 6-year-old male “Shuxiang”, the trio will entertain children and adults alike who visit the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion, a fan-shaped building of 3,000 square metres located in Macau's tranquil Coloane. www.macaupanda.org.mo   

Opening of Macau's first large scale 3D museum

Macau's first large scale 3D museum has recently opened its doors at Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16. 'Pier 16 Macau 3D World' is an 18,000 square feet museum featuring seven theme zones and over 100 photography points to take the ultimate snap. Areas include 'MJ in 3D'; '3D Jurassic World'; 'Touch of French'; 'Romantic Story'; 'Chinese Culture; 3D Interactive Experience Zone'; and '3D Macau Journey', where visitors have the chance to take stunning 3D photos with Macau's famous attractions in the background such as the Ruin's of St. Paul's and the Macau Tower. http://pier16macau3dw.com/

Hollywood-themed entertainment and Asia's highest Ferris wheel at Studio City

Due to open later this year*, the Hollywood-themed Studio City Macau will be a cinematic inspired integrated resort offering world-class entertainment. The art-deco façade will include the figure-of-eight “Golden Reel”, the highest Ferris wheel in Asia which will straddle the resort's two-towers at 130 metres. The resort's innovative entertainment offerings include a 5,000-seat multi-purpose entertainment centre designed to host live concerts, theatrical and sporting events; 'The House of Magic', Macau's first magic extravaganza designed by world-acclaimed illusionist Franz Harary; 4D flight simulation 'Batman Dark Flight' that will take visitors over Gotham City; and “Pacha Macau” which will bring Ibiza-style nightlife to Macau. The 'Studio City Hotel' will feature 1,600 luxury rooms and the resort will also offer a wide variety of luxury eateries and shopping facilities.  www.studiocity-macau.com

Upcoming family-friendly attraction: Planet J

Planet J, a player-centric “Live-Action Role-Play” (LARP) family theme park, is also expected to open later on this year at Macau's Sands Cotai Central.* The park, which will be over 90,000 square feet, will see families immersed in alternate worlds where reality and fantasy become one. Set against the fantastical backdrop of the Magic Stone Kingdom, families will be tasked with saving the realm from the evil Magic Stone creatures using a mobile gear with over 200 games. www.sandscotaicentral.com

WHEN IN MACAU, DON'T MISS:

Ghost The Musical

4th – 9th August 2015

After triumphing in the West End and Broadway, 'Ghost the Musical' is visiting Macau in August. During six days, both locals and visitors will have the chance to experience live this romantic musical which tells the story of a couple who fall deeply in love and whose passion transcends all – even death. The Macau Cultural Centre will host the performances. For further information and ticket bookings visit: www.ccm.gov.mo.

27th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest

5th, 12th, 19th, 27th September and 1st October 2015

The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest is considered the largest competitive fireworks event in the world. This colourful event, which takes place in front of the Macau Tower and overlooking the Nam Van Lake, will see a total of ten teams competing this year – including Portugal, Italy and France – to produce the most dramatic and colourful show possible. Whoever wins, visitors will certainly enjoy seeing the endless colours that will light up the night sky of Macau. http://fireworks.macautourism.gov.mo/

Mid-Autumn Festival

27th September 2015

This popular Chinese festival of abundance and togetherness dates back over 3,000 years to China's Zhou dynasty. Held during the full moon of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, the festival is very popular for families, who come together to make and eat mooncakes – a pastry filled with sweet lotus paste. As the event is also known as the “Lantern Festival”, visitors will see thousands of lanterns hung from Macau's trees and main buildings.

29th Macau International Music Festival

4th October – 1st November 2015

A variety of local and internationally-acclaimed artists will head to Macau in October to take part in the 29th edition of the Macau International Music Festival. During this popular event, visitors will be able to see an array of performances from the world's finest singers, choirs, orchestras and musicians. Acts usually perform in some of Macau's stunning World Heritage sites including St. Dominic's Church, Dom Pedro V Theatre and Mount Fortress.

18th Lusofonia Festival

23rd – 25th October

Chinese and Portuguese cultures get even closer at the annual Lusofonia Festival. This event brings together live musical performances, traditional games, handmade products, art collections and snacks from a variety of Portuguese-speaking territories, including Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Goa, Daman and Diu, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé e Príncipe and East Timor.

Keep up to date with all the latest news and information about Macau on www.facebook.com/MacauUK, follow us on Twitter or visit www.macautourism.gov.mo.

-ENDS-

* Dates and details are based on information from third parties, which may be subject to change, so we recommend that you verify the latest details with the companies concerned prior to use.

For further media information and images contact:

Tom Panagos or Enrique Martin
Macau Government Tourist Office – UK & Ireland Representatives

E: tom@humewhitehead.co.uk / enrique@humewhitehead.co.uk

T: +44 (0) 845 498 9980 / 9984

About Macau:

Located just 40 miles from Hong Kong on China's South coast, Macau continues to surprise and thrill visitors with an ever-evolving hotel, restaurant, shopping and entertainment scene, whilst retaining its unique Portuguese influences inherent in its culture, architecture, events and fusion cuisine. Chosen as one of the top 10 regions for travel in 2015 in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2015, Macau packs a lot into its 11 square miles with an abundance of historical buildings, beaches, gardens, museums, spas, shopping malls, dazzling shows and activities ranging from golf to bungee jumping. A Special Administrative Region of China since 1999, Macau blends the best of the past with new and is fast becoming one of the most Asia's most intriguing destinations.

About the Macau Government Tourist Office:

The Macau Government Tourist Office is the tourism development arm of the government of the Macau SAR (Special Administrative Region) dedicated to promoting Macau as a preferred destination and co-ordinating related activities and services within the local tourism industry. www.macautourism.gov.mo