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Erika Na

Macau is repositioning itself as a destination for cultural tourism, and its casino hotels play a key role in driving the citywide effort.
Coinciding with Macau’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty, these hotels are hosting a variety of cultural events.
Such events range from extravagant performances that blend technology with traditional Chinese cultural heritage, to more introspective showcases where artists offer their interpretations of Macau’s historical landmarks. Together, these cultural offerings provide visitors with a different way of experiencing Macau.
The following shows will deepen your appreciation of Macau’s culture and the broader historical and artistic traditions of China.

1. Echoes of a Golden Age
This art exhibition at the Sands Gallery features works by nine artists who explore and depict Macau through various mediums.
While casino hotels have played a big role in the development of Macau’s economy, they make only sparing appearances in the art on display. And when they do appear, they are often relegated to backdrops.
The artists focus on locations that hold historical, cultural and sentimental significance – a recurring subject, for example, is the Iec Long Firecracker Factory in Macau’s Taipa village.
Built more than 100 years ago, the factory was once the largest of nine firecracker factories in Taipa at a time when Macau was the world’s biggest exporter of firecrackers.
Each artist interprets the factory, which closed in 1984, in different ways. Lei Tak Seng’s Chinese painting Spirit of Iec Long captures the serene yet melancholic atmosphere of the ruined plant. Lio Man Cheong’s watercolour painting Iec Long Firecracker Factory depicts the factory’s exterior in warm yellow hues.

Other locations in Macau, such as the A-Ma Temple, Taipa Houses, Luís de Camões Park, the Ruins of St Paul’s and Senado Square, also appear in the artists’ work.
Sands Gallery, Level 6, The Grand Suites at Four Seasons, Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca. 11am to 7pm. Until January 5, 2025
2. The Maritime Silk Road
The Poly MGM Museum – a collaboration between the MGM Macau resort and Chinese state-owned cultural organisation Poly Culture – opened in November 2024. Spanning 2,000 square metres (21,500 square feet), its mission is to celebrate and preserve China’s cultural heritage.
The museum’s inaugural exhibition, “The Maritime Silk Road – Discover the Mystical Seas and Encounter the Treasures of the Ancient Trade Route”, offers an immersive look at China’s maritime history.

The exhibition – curated by Su Dan, deputy director of the China National Arts and Crafts Museum, in collaboration with 20 national museums and international art organisations – presents 228 artefacts. The oldest are from the Tang dynasty (618AD-907AD), with some from the early years of the Republic of China, which began in 1912. Among the pieces are 15 grade-one national treasures.
The exhibition begins with Mazu, the sea goddess worshipped by coastal communities in southern China and known as Tin Hau in Hong Kong. It covers ancient Chinese navigation and the key port cities along the Maritime Silk Road. Highlights include colourful Qing dynasty (1644–1912) porcelain, and examples of key trade goods such as silk, tea and spices.
One of the most striking exhibits is a set of four bronze zodiac heads from the Old Summer Palace, which were looted during the Anglo-French destruction of the palace in 1860 and returned to China in recent decades.
Poly MGM Museum, 2/F, MGM Macau, Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen. 11am to 7pm on Mondays to Thursdays; until 9pm on Fridays; 10am to 8pm on weekends and public holidays. Until 30 September 2025
3. Lotus Blossoms in Pairs, Plum Blossoms in Clusters – The Artistic World of Qi Baishi
A digital exhibition of art by Chinese painter Qi Baishi will be held at the Wynn Macau hotel to commemorate the 160th anniversary of Qi’s birth and the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the People’s Republic of China.

Qi was born in 1864 in Hunan, central China, and began learning painting at 27. Over his lifetime, he became known for his mastery of traditional literati painting – featuring the “four gentlemen” plants of plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo – and folk art that depicted simple yet vivid subjects such as crabs and shrimp.
In 1953, Qi was honoured by the Chinese Ministry of Culture as an Outstanding Artist of the Chinese People. He died in 1957 at the age of 93.
The exhibition, organised by the Beijing Fine Art Academy and the Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macau, celebrates Qi’s legacy. The Beijing Fine Art Academy, where Qi served as honorary director at its founding in 1957, holds the largest collection of his work.
“Illuminarium” in Wynn Palace, Avenida Da Nave Desportiva. 11am to 7pm on Tuesday to Sunday. Until February 15, 2025.
4. Macau 2049
Macau 2049 is the inaugural residency show at the MGM Theatre, which opened in 2017 and is directed by filmmaker Zhang Yimou. It involves hundreds of performers and showcases eight forms of Chinese intangible cultural heritage, as well as technology.

While centred on Chinese culture, the production is a global effort. Technologies from 20 countries and regions contributed to the visual and technical aspects of the show.
At 74, Zhang is one of China’s most prominent cultural figures. He is celebrated internationally for films such as Raise the Red Lantern and To Live, which told stories from China during the early 20th century. He also directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics – both in Beijing.
In addition, an exhibition at Navy Yard No. 2 in the Barra District provides an in-depth look at the creative vision behind “Macau 2049”.

The exhibition features performance excerpts, a recreation of Zhang’s studio settings, design sketches and insights into the making of the production. The exhibition will be held until February 16.
MGM Theatre at MGM Cotai, Avenida da Nave Desportiva. 7pm to 8.20pm. Until February 2, 2025.


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Khoomei, a form of Tuvan-Mongol throat singing, is one of the aspects of Chinese cultural heritage featured in Macau 2049, one of several exhibitions in Macau that showcase local and Chinese culture. Photo: Courtesy of MGM

Chan Hin Lo’s photographs showing the development of Macau’s Cotai strip in Echoes of a Golden Age. Photo: Erika Na

Artist Lok Hei’s sketch of the Ruins of St Paul’s, on show in Echoes of a Golden Age. Photo: Erika Na

Part of the exhibition at the Poly MGM Museum about China’s historical Maritime Silk Road. Photo: Courtesy of MGM

A Qi Baishi painting of magpies on plum blossoms featured in the show at Wynn Palace. Photo: Courtesy of Wynn Palace

Performers in Macau 2049 at the MGM Theatre. Photo: Courtesy of MGM

At “Zhang Yimou’s Studio: Mastermind Behind Macau 2049” in Barra District, visitors can explore the creative process behind the making of the Macau 2049 show. Photo: Courtesy of MGM

How Macau’s fusion cuisine is preserved by dedicated cooks using their ancestors’ recipes

Manuela Sales da Silva Ferreira, owner of the family-run Restaurante Litoral in Macau, is dedicated to preserving Macanese recipes. Photo: AP 

Customers eat lunch at the family-run Restaurante Litoral in Macau. Photo: AP

Manuela Sales da Silva Ferreira’s favourite Macanese dish is baked crabmeat, a dish she learned to make from her mother. Photo: AP

Macanese people traditionally served as a bridge between the Portuguese administrators and Chinese residents of Macau, says Miguel de Senna Fernandes, president of the Macanese Association. Photo: AP 

Captivating photos of Macau, from casinos to people, highlight ‘strange blend of extremes’

“Prince”, Bellboy at The 13 Hotel, by Adam Lampton, taken on August 10, 2019. Photo: Adam Lampton


“Prince”, Bellboy at The 13 Hotel, by Adam Lampton, taken on August 10, 2019. It is one of thousands of images the American photographer shot of Macau between 2006 and 2019, from half-built casinos to local people. Photo: Adam Lampton

The Grand Lisboa, by Adam Lampton, taken on January 29, 2007. Photo: Adam Lampton

Teens on Grandma’s Grave during Qingming Festival, by Adam Lampton, taken on April 5, 2007. Photo: Adam Lampton

Cotai Construction Entrance, by Adam Lampton, taken on March 2, 2007. Photo: Adam Lampton

Eiffel Tower, The Parisian Macao, by Adam Lampton, taken on May 31, 2015. Photo: Adam Lampton

Portrait in the Dom Pedro V Theatre Basement, by Adam Lampton, taken on December 12, 2006. Photo: Adam Lampton

Lion of Venice, by Adam Lampton, taken on May 8, 2007. Photo: Adam Lampton

Florist at Crown Macau Grand Opening, by Adam Lampton, taken on May 12, 2006. Photo: Adam Lampton

Artist Sketching, by Adam Lampton, was taken on April 18, 2007. Photo: Adam Lampton

Anni and Dog, by Adam Lampton, taken on November 25, 2007. Photo: Adam Lampton

Edmund Ho Lighting a Firework, by Adam Lampton, taken on February 17, 2007. Ho was Macau’s first chief executive, serving from 1999 to 2009. Photo: Adam Lampton

Apartment Buildings at Night, Taipa, by Adam Lampton, taken on December 1, 2006. Photo: Adam Lampton

Arched Doorway, The Mandarin’s House, by Adam Lampton, taken on December 14, 2006. Photo: Adam Lampton

The Macau Jockey Club, by Adam Lampton, taken on December 17, 2006. Photo: Adam Lampton

American photographer Adam Lampton. Photo: Adam Lampton

What’s new in Macau beyond the casinos? Revived neighbourhoods, a roof garden and one-off shows and festivals to look forward to

The Light Up Macao 2023 festival. Photo: Macau Government Tourism Office

Iao Hon Market has photogenic views of Macau. It is one of several new attractions to visit in Hong Kong’s sister city. Photo: Macau Government

The Light Up Macao festival takes place all over the city. Photo: Macau Government Tourism Office

Westlife will be performing in Macau on November 18 and 19. Photo: Mike Lewis Photography/Redferns

The House of Dancing Water is set to return to the City of Dreams stage in the coming months. Photo: City of Dreams

The Macau Food Festival is set to open between November 17 and December 3. Photo: Macau Food Festival

Studio City has opened a gigantic outdoor water park.

A themed exhibition at Macau’s former shipyards reminds the public about the history and culture of the Lai Chi Vun Shipyards and of Lai Chi Vun Village. Photo: Government Information Bureau, Macau

Best apps for foreign visitors in China and which are useless – like Google Maps

WeChat and Alipay are the best apps for foreigners to download to use for payments in China since both began allowing users to link international cards to their payment systems. Photo: Getty Images

A customer makes an electronic Alipay payment on his smartphone to pay for his food at a restaurant in Beijing. Photo: AFP

An Alipay QR payment code (right, in blue) and a WeChat QR code (left, in green) are displayed at a street stall selling gadgets in Beijing for customers to scan to pay for items. Photo: AFP

A customer makes an electronic payment with Alipay on his smartphone for his food at a restaurant in Beijing. Photo: AFP

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As casino city looks to turn itself into a cultural tourism destination, resorts put on art exhibitions and shows. Here are four of the best


As casino city looks to turn itself into a cultural tourism destination, resorts put on art exhibitions and shows. Here are four of the best.


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