Tour-Smart Limited

Update July 2012

Finding Macau’s most popular tourist sites, such as the A-Ma Temple, iconic Ruins of St. Paul’s and elegant Senado Square, has been made easier for visitors, as a result of new apps and tools for mobile devices introduced for digitally-savvy travellers.

Now iPhone and iPad users can explore areas such as the UNESCO World Heritage listed “Historic Centre of Macau” from top to toe with the support of the new “Macau Geoguide” free app, offering map browsing, keyword search, GPS mapping, distance and area measurement, as well as a bookmark system. Users can simply search their destination while connected to the internet and retrieve information at a later stage of their trip.

Meanwhile, a mobile version of the “Macau Online Map” (webmap.gis.gov.mo) has also launched, enabling visitors to navigate Macau by simply tapping in the name of a hotel, restaurant, street or place of interest.

And with Macau one of the most ‘connected’ cities in the world, visitors can take advantage of free wireless Internet connectivity via the territory-wide WiFi Go service.

Helping non-Chinese speaking visitors to communicate with local taxi drivers is a new taxi translator. Compatible with Android and Apple smartphones, the “Macau Taxi Translator” is a free tool visitors can download to translate street names and attractions into written Chinese and phonetic Cantonese on the go. Once downloaded, the tool requires no internet connection.

Finally, with the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s ‘WH Macau’ App, the city’s World Heritage sites are just a sweep of the fingers away. This handy app - which can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Android Market - harnesses the magic of the Global Positioning System to pinpoint sites throughout the Historic Centre of Macau. Its 360-degree virtual reality images and video clips can be accessed by mobile phones anywhere in the world.

For great information about Macau visit www.macautourism.gov.mo

Tucked away in the leafy north east of this fascinating hot and happening destination in Asia, the picturesque St. Lazarus district of Macau has been rejuvenated into a hub of creativity and fashion. Named after the leprosy hospital that once stood here, the cobblestone streets with their colourful Portuguese facades in iconic shades of yellow, green or salmon are now a magnet for creative hothouse types and a thriving retail and restaurant centre.

One of the newest attractions is the Macau Fashion Gallery. Created as a vehicle to promote and showcase fashion, the gallery serves as an interactive window for fashion art education, academic exchange, cultural display and communication. By regularly organising different art and fashion related events, it is a multi-faceted platform to assist the development of fashion within the cultural creative industries of Macau. Launched in style, the gallery’s first free exhibition – running until the end of September 2012 - includes collections by aspiring designers from Greater China and is titled the “Resurgence of the Qi Style”.

Another new space, opening in July 2012, is the Macau Story House, comprising elements such as historical research, education and arts. Established by the Oral History Association of Macau, this fascinating attraction highlights Macau’s history and cultural heritage through a collection of books about Macau, its oral history and arts design. The Macau Story House will publish Macau stories in books, postcards and brochures as well as applying historical research to creative products, exhibitions, workshops and seminars.

Within a stone’s throw is the Albergue SCM, a tranquil oasis shaded by leafy trees. Here, visitors can treat their taste buds to the fusion cuisine served at Albergue 1601, which has a loyal following among locals. Nearby, the G17 Gallery is the place to learn about ceramics and pottery and G32 is a traditional Macanese home restored in the style of a Macanese home from the 1960s, complete with period furniture and retro floral wallpaper.

Also located in the St. Lazarus district is the Tai Fung Tong Art House in a building originally donated by a wealthy philanthropist as a Catholic school in 1918. The aim of the current proprietors is to promote traditional Chinese culture and the conservation of this enchanting area, with exhibitions displaying valuable private collections, from the Neolithic Age to modern China, including porcelain ware, bronzes, vases, statues, ornaments and paintings.

Finally, the area is home to a thriving street culture, as expressed by the ‘Sun Never Left’ public art performance. Developed by the Macao Creative Industries Promotion Association and launched in March 2011, the performance is held every Saturday and Sunday at Rua de Sao Roque and provides a platform for local musicians to develop their music.

With such charming scenery and well-preserved architecture, this picturesque district has been frequently used for photo shots and filming. Other interesting backdrops for photography nearby include Tap Seac Square, encompassing neo-classical buildings from the early 20th century painted in warm tones of red and ochre; the Chinese garden of Lou Lim Ieoc , a retreat used by locals to practice tai-chi or opera; and the Guia Fortress, perched at the top of a hill and overlooking the expanse of the South China Sea.

For more information visit  www.macautourism.gov.mo