As March arrives and the seasons change, this is the ideal time to recharge your batteries. You can enjoy all programmes during your tour in Macau using your five senses - see, hear, touch, smell and taste!

Drama fans will want to get along to the Macau Cultural Centre to see "What is Man?" - a modern version of the renowned Chinese literary work "The Water Margin" - directed by talented Hong Kong director Edward Lam. Meanwhile, the "5th Macau United Cup International Open Championships" showcase Standard and Latin dancers at Macau Fisherman's Wharf.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra will perform with famous US background music dubbing master Carl Davis for "Charlie Chaplin Remixed" - bringing a whole new dimension to Chaplin's silent films. UNESCO Heritage listed St. Dominic's Church hosts the "Festive Series - Easter Concert" whilst the "Chamber Music Series - Vienna Classics" and "Chamber Music Series - The Melodious Baroque" will be performed in Dom Pedro V Theatre, another UNESCO Heritage listed building. International diva Celine Dion also comes to Macau in March in her Asian leg of "Celine Dion - Taking Chances World Tour 2008", and you can catch her at The Venetian Arena.

Visiting Macau Communications Museum will not only be educational but fun for the whole family - enjoy making yourself a DIY postcard! For Chinese culture lovers, seek out the two big festival celebrations hosted by Pagode Fok Tac Chi and Kun Iam Tong (Pou Chai Sim Un) complete with Chinese art performances.

Taxi Ambassadors can help you to settle the language problem and provide other assistance. Famous for its particularly delicious food, visitors in the know inevitably end up at the Rua do Ervanário to taste the district's specialties. As well as hosting a series of entertaining events and providing exciting cuisine, Macau Fisherman's Wharf will host an Easter Party this month.

A talented troupe of actors from Macau Conservatory will stage the intriguingly-titled "Shall We Go to Mars?" at the Macau Cultural Centre, while the "15th Wedding, Banquet, Beauty & Jewellery Expo" will supply a cornucopia of wedding products and services. Down the road, Macau Museum of Art is hosting "Passion for Nature - Sketches and drawings by Gao JianFu", an exhibition that features the beautiful works of the renowned founder of the Lingnan school of painting.

Come and enjoy your tour. Macau, A World of difference, the difference is Macau.

1 Mar - Harmonious Family Carnival

International Women's Day, celebrated worldwide, originated in the US almost 100 years ago and commemorates the struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In order to celebrate this festival, a Carnival will be held on March 1, with family relationships the theme of the activity. Lots of game booths, dance and drama performances plus an exhibition to look forward to.

Time: 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission free
Venue: Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion & Vasco da Gama Garden, Av. Sid?nio Pais
Organizer: Comiss?o Consultiva para os Assuntos das Mulheres   
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2833 7676

3 Mar - "Money" from Kun Iam

The 400-year old Temple of Kun Iam Tong (Pou Chai Sim Un) is one of the three largest temples in Macau, attracting numerous tourists and worshippers from all around the world eager to fulfill their dearest wishes.

On the night of the 25th of the first month of the Lunar Calendar (March 3 this year) many worshippers traditionally crowd in front of  Kun Iam Tong for special blessings - in the hope that Kun Iam will lend them "money" for the year.

Legend has it that when Kun Iam was undergoing her "training" on Earth, 500 heavenly beings were sent to test her. She successfully passed the tests and even fed the envoys well. Henceforth, worshippers gather every year at this time in the expectation that Kun Iam will fulfill their spiritual and material needs.

Incense & Pinwheel Stalls
Date & Time: 2 Mar 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next day
Location: Kun Iam Tong, Av. do Coronel Mesquita

9 Mar - Feast of the God Tou Tei

As God of the Earth, locals believe Tou Tei can protect believers and help safeguard their possessions. On the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, local residents will host a celebration in Tou Tei Temple (also known as Fok Tac Chi) to honour the deity's birthday and offer tribute.

This year, celebrations will be held during the festival, with a dinner party especially arranged for the aged in Pagode Fok Tac Chi near Mercado da Horta da Mitra. Lion dancers and traditional Cantonese Opera performers will round off what promises to be an interesting evening.

Celebration of Feast of the God Tou Tei
Date & Time:
7 Mar 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
8 to 11 Mar 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. / 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
12 Mar 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Venue: Pagode Fok Tac Chi
Admission free
Organizer: Pagode Fok Tac Chi

15 to 23 Mar - 27th Macau Greening (Cidade Verde) Week

Wouldn"t it be nice to help preserve some of the beautiful scenes encountered on your travels?

As part of its campaign to convey the importance of "greening" the environment, this year Macau Greening (Cidade Verde) Week hosts a variety of activities including a Design Competition, Ecology Exhibition, Half-Day Trip of greening Macau, Tree Planting and other environmentally-friendly activities. Tap Seac Square, Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, Coloane Seac Pai Van Park will all hold their own activities so why not plant a tree on your next visit to Macau!

For details, please refer to organizer.
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2887 0277
http://nature.iacm.gov.mo/main.htm

3 Feb to 22 Jun - Taipa Flea Market

Taipa – Cantonese slang for ‘tiny pool’ – is a magnet for visitors that leaves few admirers of ‘old Macau’ disappointed.

Recently, the popular bazaar has returned to Bombeiros Square in the heart of the old village. Accessories, memorial gifts, models, toys, clothes, antiques and near-extinct products have been assembled by a group of energetic and ambitious local traders, attracting not only locals but many visitors searching for ‘treasure’. A street show performs on a fortnightly basis.

Visitors need only hop on a bus or take a cab to the village before exploring the area in earnest. Rua do Cunha boasts many Portuguese buildings situated in streets crisscrossing each other like a patchwork quilt. Bring your camera and an artistic eye for photographs that will surely capture the romance of another, slower-paced time.

Time: Every Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Admission free
Venue: Bombeiros Square, Taipa
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries for Taipa Flea Market: (853) 2833 7676 
Telephone enquiries for Street Show: (853) 8988 4100

Open on 21 & 22 Mar

1 & 2 Mar - Shall We Go to Mars?

The performance "Shall We Go to Mars?" - to be staged at the Macau Cultural Centre on March 1 and 2 - will be performed by Macau Conservatory teachers Ip Ka Man, Au Mong Chao, Ku Ieng Un and Wong Pak Hou in co-operation with their students, with renowned Hong Kong movie man Weigo Lee in the director's chair.

The story recounts the tale of a lonely old man called Jimmy who wants to visit Mars. He goes to a narrow street and spies a group of people with lonely hearts just like him.  The story revolves around the many lonely people living an urban existence. Jimmy thinks that maybe a trip to Mars will stir his empty heart . . . 

Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Small Auditorium, Macau Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Admission: MOP$100, 80
Organizer: Cultural Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2870 1588
http://www.ccm.gov.mo
http://www.icm.gov.mo

5 Mar - 5th Macau United Cup International Open Championships

Cha Cha, Samba, Jive, Tango, Quick Step and Waltz . . . If you are a fan of Standard and Latin dance, you absolutely can"t afford to miss the International Open Championships, to be held in Macau Fisherman's Wharf on March 5.

The inaugural Asian Open Dance Tour - taking in Japan, Taiwan China, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore - is coming to Macau as well, with a dozen professional Standard and Latin dancers, highly placed in the 2007 WDC world ranking series, performing in the evening show.

Time: Day time Competition: noon to 6:00 p.m.
           Evening Show: 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Venue: Convention & Exhibition Centre, Macau Fisherman's Wharf
Admission: MOP$50 (Day time competition)
                   MOP$800, 600 (Evening Show)
Organizer: Macau United Dance Association
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2878 6715, 2878 7935

7 & 8 Mar - What is Man?

In this sharp and amusing play, Hong Kong director Edward Lam and a cast of brilliant actors from Taiwan bring to life some of the characters from the classic Chinese novel "Water Margin" in a completely new interpretation of the much-loved story. Instead of merely dramatizing the original tale, "What is Man?" seeks out the resonance of the original text in modern Chinese society.

The "Water Margin" recounts the feats of a fearless gang of outlaws who take refuge on Liang Mountain. Edward Lam extracts these heroic male archetypes and sets them in a strong contemporary atmosphere and dramatic context that the individual can relate to. How will modern man react to society's repressions? This is the key question that "What is Man?" poses for the audience.

Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Grand Auditorium, Macau Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Admission: MOP$250, 200, 150, 80
Organizer: Macau Cultural Centre    
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2870 0699
http://www.ccm.gov.mo
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/ntchblog

Duration: Approx. 3 hours 15 minutes (including 15 minutes intermission)
Performed in Mandarin (with Chinese subtitles)
Best for those aged 13 or above

Chamber Music Series: "Vienna Classics" & "The Melodious Baroque"

Macau Orchestra has selected favourite pieces from Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart and Vivaldi for its Chamber Music Series, which this March will be held in the classically proportioned Dom Pedro V Theatre, a UNESCO site inscribed on the World Heritage List.

On March 8, the first concert - "Vienna Classics" - will be performed by this increasingly popular orchestra, to be followed by "The Melodious Baroque" on March 28 and 30.

Chamber Music Series - Vienna Classics
Date: 8 Mar

Chamber Music Series - The Melodious Baroque
Date: 28 & 30 Mar 

Time: 8:00 p.m. 
Venue: Dom Pedro V Theatre, No. 3, St. Augustine's Square
Admission: MOP$30
Organizer: Cultural Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8399 6699
http://www.icm.gov.mo/om

15 Mar - Celine Dion - Taking Chances World Tour 2008

Celine Dion - one of the best-selling female pop vocalists?of all times, and an instantly recognisable international talent - will perform at The Venetian Arena on March 15.

Her major international breakthrough was achieved with "Beauty and the Beast" in 1992, for which she lifted an Academy Award (Oscar) for best original song, soon to be followed with Grammy Awards in the US and World Music Awards in Europe. She is also closely associated with the poignant "My Heart Will Go On", which has also brought her numerous awards and broken many records in the music industry.

Having just completed an amazing - four-year nightly performance in a 5-star theatrical show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the diva brings her brand-new "Taking Chances World Tour" to Macau this month in addition to performing in South Africa, Japan, Korea, Australia, Shanghai, Beijing, Europe, Canada and America throughout 2008. 

Time: 8:30 p.m.
Venue: Venetian Arena, The Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel
Admission: MOP$2500, 1200, 800
Organizer: The Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel    
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2882 8818
http://www.venetianmacaotickets.com

Duration: Approx. 2 hours

20 to 23 Mar - Family Easter

On March 23, St. Dominic's Church will host its traditional "Festive Series - Easter Concert" performed by the Macau Orchestra. Visitors and locals can appreciate the splendid baroque interior of the church while listening to the enchanting "Mass in B minor" from the immortal pen of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Macau Fisherman's Wharf (MFW) also enters into the festive spirit this Easter by providing family-themed attractions and events such as the volcano data centre, amusing Street Show and cartoonist. And MFW also means great dining and shows, with this month's recommendation fresh lobster . . . and a special performance by Australian aboriginals!

Macau Fisherman's Wharf Carnival
Date: 20 to 22 Mar
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8299 3300
http://www.fishermanswharf.com.mo

Festive Series - Easter Concert
Johann Sebastian Bach: Excepts from "Mass in B minor", BWV232
Conductor: Philip Pickett
Chorus: The Taipei Philharmonic Chorus
Date: 23 Mar
Admission free
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: St. Dominic's Church
Organizer: Cultural Affairs Bureau
Duration: approx. 1 hour 20 minutes (without intermission)
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8399 6699
http://www.icm.gov.mo/om
Tickets distributed in front of St. Dominic's Church one hour before concert starts.

21 & 22 Mar - Charlie Chaplin Remixed - Live Music by Carl Davis

Charlie Chaplin - one of the most creative and influential personalities of the silent film era - acted in, directed, scripted, produced, and eventually scored his own films. Many of the 83 movies he appeared in have gone down as classics in an entertainment career that spanned some 65 years.

The celebrated music composer and director Carl Davis salutes Chaplin and his era by composing scores for restored prints of "The Silents", and his association with the London Philharmonic Orchestra has led to regular presentations of Chaplin classics.

Now the comic genius and Carl Davis are brought together in Macau with the world-class musicians of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra travelling through eight classic movies over two nights in the Macau Cultural Centre. On March 21, movie buffs and music lovers can see The Pawn Shop / Behind the Screen / Easy Street / The Rink; and on March 22 they can see The Immigrant / The Cure / The Floor Walker / The Adventurer.

On March 18 at 7:00pm, Carl Davis will reveal the process of composing music for comedy and discuss the appreciation of movie screenings with live music in the VIP Room of the "Arts Salon" (English with assistance in Chinese) in the Macau Cultural Centre. With limited seats available for the general public, bookings will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Grand Auditorium, Macau Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Admission: MOP$250, 190, 140, 80
Organizer: Macau Cultural Centre    
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2870 0699
http://www.ccm.gov.mo

Duration: Approx. 2 hours (including 20 minutes intermission)

8 & 9 Mar - 15th Wedding, Banquet, Beauty & Jewellery Expo

The "15th Wedding, Banquet, Beauty & Jewellery Expo", to be held on March 8 & 9, will feature about 100 booths and invites wedding companies from Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan and Guam to provide various wedding products and services for those about to tie the knot. The Expo provides far-ranging services such as property dealing, enabling those about to set up home to glean the latest real estate information.

The Expo also presents entertaining programmes such as wedding gown shows by Hong Kong top models, fashionable make-up and hairstyle demonstrations for brides, and professional advice about beauty treatment - as well as fun games for the about-to-be betrothed!

Time: noon to 9:00 p.m.
Admission free
Venue: 4th Floor Exhibition Hall, Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre
Organizer: Aplus PR and Advertising Company
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2870 3930 , 6611 1339
http://www.macautower.com.mo
http://www.mcea.org.mo

9 Mar to 28 Apr - Sunset Glow - Lei Sao I Painting Exhibition

Lei Sao I, born in the 80's and raised in Macau, continuously practiced drawing while learning about art. In this solo exhibition, she recalls the 80's, when she spent her childhood in metal shacks.
 
As Macau progresses, such scenarios have gradually diminshed - no more hanging of laundry, no more colourful rustic walls and disordered wires intricately laid on the ground . . .

Opening Hours: noon to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Tuesdays)    
Admission free
Venue: Ox Warehouse, Intersection of Av. do Coronel Mesquita and Av. do Almirante Lacerda
Organizer: Old Ladies" House Art Space
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2853 0026
http://oxwarehouse.blogspot.com

Inauguration: 9 Mar at 3:00 p.m.

6 Feb to 9 Mar - Encounter with Exotic Customs in the City of Lotus - Popular Traditions of the Henan and Guizhou Provinces Spring Festival

The Spring Festival exhibition is one of the most important annual exhibitions in Macau. The exhibition this year focuses on the New Year customs of Henan Province and Guizhou Province. Unique exhibits include the traditional folk art of ‘Ninigou’, papercutting, shadow playing, beauty customs, musical instruments and other folk arts.

This year, the exhibition will be held in the Pavilion and Macau Tea Culture House of Lou Lim Ieoc Garden. The garden is modeled on those of Suzhou, the most famous of all Chinese classical gardens. In the garden, there is a pavilion that combines classical and Chinese architectural elements, which serves as an exhibition gallery. The 3-storey Macau Tea Culture House can be found near the pavilion and hosts a variety of exhibitions to introduce the tea culture of Macau.

Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, open on Public Holidays) 
Admission free 
Venue: Pavilion & Macau Tea Culture House, Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, Est. de Adolfo Loureiro No. 10 
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau 
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8988 4100, 2882 7882

4 Feb to 9 Mar - Beyond Desire - Paintings by Ng Fong Chao

Ng Fong Chao, born in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, settled in Macau in 1983. He studied painting, stone engraving and photography and participated in more than 60 collective exhibitions in China and overseas since 1990. In this exhibition, he shows ten fine exhibits.

St. Paul's Fine Arts, located near the Ruins of St. Paul's, is a three-storey building over a century old and comprises a restaurant, bar, gallery and multi-purpose rooms.

Opening Hours: noon to 8:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays) 
Admission free 
Venue: St. Paul's Fine Arts, Trav. de S. Paulo, No. 3, 5 & 7 
Organizer: Art For All 
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2842 2842
www.stpaulscorner.com

23 Jan to 10 Mar - Macau Horizons II - Contemporary Art Exhibition

This exhibition aspires to build on the success of its predecessor, bringing more art talent to the fore and enhancing the quality of local works. The organizer invited local professional artists to form the selection panel, with twelve sets selected for display at Tap Seac Gallery.

The mediums employed in the exhibition include painting, video works, ink paintings, photography, sculpture, installation, computer aided graphic arts and design, mixed media and many other channels of creative cross-media communication.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Open on public holidays) 
Admission free 
Venue: Tap Seac Gallery, Av. do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, No. 95 
Organizer: Cultural Affairs Bureau 
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2833 5140
www.macauart.net

19 Jan to 9 Mar - Beyond the Surface: Exhibition of Chinese Abstract Paintings

"Getting at what lies at the centre of a sphere beyond its surface" (Tang Dynasty writer Si Kongtu) epitomizes the underlying concept behind the Macau Museum of Art's call for submissions of abstract paintings from artists in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

The "Beyond the Surface" exhibition displays 42 selected works that enable visitors to explore the creative thinking and currents of contemporary Chinese painting through abstract paintings from the different cultural backgrounds of the four regions on either side of the Strait.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays)
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Sundays)
Venue: 2nd floor Gallery of Special Exhibitions, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

29 Dec 2007 to 9 Mar 2008 - 24th Collective Exhibition of Macau Artists

A major, celebrated event applauding the infinite creativity of artists, the "Collective Exhibition of Macau Artists" now enters its 24th year.

Mok Im Noi was awarded "Best Creation Special Prize" and "Best Creation" for her Western painting, and in this year’s exhibition some 54 prize-winning works and other selected pieces are categorized into Chinese painting, Western painting and Chinese calligraphy for the enjoyment and appreciation of the viewing public.

Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, open on public holidays) 
Admission free
Venue: Temporary Exhibition Gallery of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Av. Almeida Ribeiro No. 163
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8988 4100, 2882 7882

19 Dec 2007 to 23 Mar 2008 - Passion for Nature - Sketches and drawings by Gao JianFu

Gao Jianfu is the respected leading master of the Lingnan School of painting, pioneering the reform in traditional Chinese paintings. The sketches and drawings on display present the unique style and expressive approach of the Lingnan school, which merges Western sketching techniques with Japanese colouring in motifs of traditional Chinese paintings. The exhibition provides a multi-layered, multi-angled perspective of Gao's artistic achievements through a more comprehensive understanding of his works and ideas.

The exhibition displays about 200 sketches and drawings by Gao Jianfu, which primarily include his duplicates of masters' works and sketches of life and nature.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (No admission at 5:30 p.m., closed on Mondays) 
Admission: MOP$15 (Free on 15th of every month) 
Venue: Macau Museum, Macau Museum Square No. 112 
Organizer: Cultural Affairs Bureau 
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2835 7911, 2833 5141
www.icm.gov.mo

15 Dec 2007 to 16 Mar 2008 - Witness the Qing Empire: A Special Exhibition of Cultural Relics from the Palace Museum

The Qing Dynasty, a regime established by the minority Manchu tribe from the central plains of China, encountered the exploratory expansion of the Western World, and the rich, mixed cultures of that period continue to inspire novels, dramas, TV programmes and movies.

By presenting cultural relics and building upon historical fact, this exhibition recounts the anecdotes concerning the imperial court, politics, the military, culture and customs, in order to provide audiences with an edifying, interesting exhibition.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays) 
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Sundays)
Venue: 4th floor Gallery of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, Gallery of Chinese Porcelain, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizers: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Palace Museum, Macau Foundation, Macau Government Tourist Office, Macau Daily News
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

26 Oct 2007 to 23 Mar 2008 - Macau Contemporary Paintings

At the beginning of the 20th Century, Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism, Abstract Art, Dada and Surrealism, among others, encouraged contemporary art to unshackle itself from the limitations of naturalism and greatly enriched the forms and range of the languages of art.

In the early 1990s, several master painters from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Portugal, Singapore, Australia and Russia moved to Macau, introducing new artistic concepts. Together with local artists, they gained inspiration from the rich cultural background of combined Western and Oriental cultures, and were able to communicate strong personalities through various modes of abstract art.

The Macau Museum of Art has collected a significant number of modern works of art since the 1980s, with more than 30 paintings by local artists displayed in this intriguing exhibition.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays)
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Sundays)
Venue: 3rd floor Gallery of Special Exhibitions, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

8 Mar to 9 Apr - "The World of Colours" & "Group Exhibition" at Creative Macau

Creative Macau invites visitors to these two exhibitions in March. Andre Lui Chak Keong is a local architect and artist who paints, creates installations, engages in photography and video, and participates in many collective and individual exhibitions. His solo painting exhibition "The World of Colours" can be seen from March 8 to 24.

Graphic design is a combination of shapes, colours, typefaces, images and words that cause one to react or feel something. In "Group Exhibition", members of Creative Macau display their 2D and 3D graphic design works from March 27 to April 9.

Opening Hours: 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Sundays)    
Admission free
Venue: Creative Macau, G Floor, Macau Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Centre for Creative Industries
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2875 3282
http://www.creativemacau.org.mo

8 Dec 2007 to 6 Apr 2008 - Flying Beyond the Secrets of Darkness

The Autumn's children's painting class, hosted by the Macau Museum of Art (MMA), adopted concern about the blind as its theme and was structured to enable children to experience the life of the blind through using senses other than vision (i.e.) through touch, hearing and smell.

This exhibition - titled "Flying Beyond the Secrets of Darkness" - presents more than 100 works created by children from the Chinese and international children's art classes, and include "surprising masks", "miraculous eyes", blinkers and "visible smell".

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: Ground floor Gallery, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

15 Mar to 13 Apr - Back & Front - Works by Tong Chong

St. Paul's Fine Arts, located near the Ruins of St. Paul's, is a three-storey building over a century old and comprises a restaurant, bar, gallery and multi-purpose rooms. This month, St. Paul's Fine Arts hosts the exhibition "Back & Front - Works by Tong Chong", a young local artist who has regularly exhibited in collective exhibitions.

Opening Hours: noon to 8:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: St. Paul's Fine Arts, Trav. de S. Paulo, No. 3, 5 & 7
Organizer: Art For All   
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2842 2842
http://www.stpaulscorner.com

26 Jan to 20 Apr - Serene Forest Landscape - Wong Io Wa Painting Exhibition

When artists witness the interchanges between dawn and dusk, or set foot on lands with seasonal variations, they are deeply impressed by the captivating natural landscapes surrounding them. Local artist Wong Io Wa has been particularly inspired by such landscapes as evidenced by his expressive brushwork, which evokes a sense of natural freshness conveyed through the animated contrast of shades and hues, a true narrative of nature.

Opening Hours: 
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
(Closed on Mondays, open on public holidays) 
Admission free 
Venue: Exhibition Gallery, the Taipa-Houses Museum, Av. da Praia, Taipa 
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau 
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8988 4100, 2882 7882 
http://housesmuseum.iacm.gov.mo

Permanent Exhibitions

Handover Gifts Exhibition

This exhibition displays handover gifts presented by the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and special administrative regions of China to the Macau Special Administrative Region, and reflect strong regional features and unique artistry.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(No admission after 6:30 p.m.,closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: Handover Gifts Exhibition Gallery,
Handover Gifts Museum of Macau, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8504 1800
http://handovermuseum.iacm.gov.mo

Historical Paintings of Macau in the 19th Century

This exhibition displays oil paintings, watercolours and sketches with humans and scenery as their theme. They provide vivid and clear visual information that cannot be neglected for the study of the modern history of Guangdong and for the study of Chinese painting since the Qing dynasty.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00p.m.
(No admission after 6:30p.m., closed on Mondays)
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Sundays)
Venue: 3rd floor, the Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

Bryde's Whalebone Exhibition

A twelve meters male Bryde's Whale is now on display in a unique exhibition in Seac Pai Van Park in Coloane. After it was found stranded on the shoreline five years ago. Its body was taken to Guangzhou's Sun Yat-sen University to preserve it in the form of a skeletal specimen and thanks to painstaking efforts has been returned for the public.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: Exhibition Room, Seac Pai Van Park, Coloane
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2859 5481
www.museumaritimo.gov.mo

Dwellings of Hope Cove: A Happy End

The Taipa Houses Museum, comprising five typical green houses with Macanese architectural characteristics, is considered one of the cultural relics and heritage of the territory. This dignified row of dwellings symbolise the enduring regional and local history of the islands of Taipa and Coloane; this exhibition shows photos and real objects and serves to underscore the lasting importance to Macau of the Houses of Beach Avenue. The five houses include "Macanese House", "House of the Islands", "House of the Portugal Regions", "Exhibition Gallery" and "House of Reception".

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, open on public holidays)
Venue: House of the Islands, The Taipa Houses-Museum, Av. da Praia, Taipa
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on  Tuesdays)
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2882 7103
http://housesmuseum.iacm.gov.mo

Encounter with History - Photographic Commemoration of the Basic Law of the Macau SAR

The photographs in this exhibition range from the first photo taken of Macau by Jules Itier in 1844 to the present day. The exhibition examines the territory through five distinct phases of its history - Macau post-Opium War, Macau during the Republican Era, Macau after the formation of the New China, Macau during its Transitional Period and Macau following her return to China.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays) 
Admission free 
Venue: Macau Forum Exhibition Hall, Av. de Marciano Baptista 
Organizers: Association of Promotion of the Macau Basic Law, Legal Affairs Bureau, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Education and Youth Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8988 4100, 2882 7882

Museum of Taipa and Coloane History Exhibition

Situated in a green Portuguese-style building of great historic interest in the old Camara Municipal das Ilhas, the museum displays historic village artifacts and religious items. Historians will find a treasure trove in this 2-storey building with its 8 rooms.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays) 
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Tuesdays) 
Address: Museum of Taipa and coloane History - Rua Correia da Silva, Taipa 
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2882 5631
www.iacm.gov.mo/cotaimuseum

A Glimpse of the Past: A Collection of Old Macau Photos from MAM

"A Glimpse of the Past: A Collection of Old Macau Photos from MAM" displays 110 photographs taken in various years during the last century, and captures scenic spots, daily life, cultural events, buildings, street views, vehicles, etc.

It is the fervent hope of Macau Museum of Art that by placing these old photographs in a long term exhibition, and making them available for research, that residents and visitors may catch a glimpse of the territory at different points in time, not only for nostalgic reasons but to contemplate Macau’s current and future development against the backdrop of increasing globalisation.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays) 
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Sundays)
Venue: 3rd floor Gallery of Special Exhibitions, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

Flying Beyond the Secrets of Darkness

The Autumn's children's painting class, hosted by the Macau Museum of Art (MMA), adopted concern about the blind as its theme and was structured to enable children to experience the life of the blind through using senses other than vision (i.e.) through touch, hearing and smell.

This exhibition - titled "Flying Beyond the Secrets of Darkness" - presents more than 100 works created by children from the Chinese and international children's art classes, and include "surprising masks", "miraculous eyes", blinkers and "visible smell".

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: Ground floor Gallery, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

Grab a Cab with a Taxi Ambassador

Taxis are an indispensable means of transportation for tourists but sometimes meanings get "lost in translation". To improve communication, the Taxi Ambassador provides a free assistance to visitors using taxis at Macau International Airport and Macau Ferry Terminal.

From 9:00 am to 9:00 pm every day, uniformed Taxi Ambassadors with official badges will assist visitors in communicating with taxi drivers about taxi fares and destinations, and will write down the number of the license plate on an information card. Taxi Ambassadors are fluent in Cantonese and have a good command of English and Putonghua.

Organizers: Macau Government Tourist Office, General Union of Neighbours Association of Macau, Association of Traders and Operators of Commercial Vehicles
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2833 3614

Travel Notes of A Museum Explorer

Macau Communications Museum

A thirty-something dad, at first I didn"t really understand why I tried to compete with my daughter in making a DIY postcard and even licking the stamp! And why didn"t I just let my son drive the simulated pilot device instead of "flying" myself? And what was the relevance of being a postman and flying a plane? Why did I have to restrain myself from playing with the tin can telephone but ended up using it anyway? My excuse is that when we arrived at Macau Communications Museum in Estrada de D.Maria II, I found - to my delight - that I was still young and curious.

As an adult, I sometimes feel bored watching the kids play for endless hours, leaving me to do nothing but wait. But this time things were very different. Macau Communications Museum really is a family experience!

Driving the simulated pilot device, for example, I wondered why a postman needed to have knowledge of it. Later, I discovered that in the 1930s airmail originally came from the west coast of America via Hawaii, Guam and Manila before arriving in Macau. Although my son's "landing" was smoother than mine, I pretended I was one of those postmen fearlessly piloting the plane to get the mail through . . .

The four-storey Macau Communications Museum - which has its second anniversary on March 1 - presents a different theme on each floor, offering a chance for everybody to learn more while having fun, and I look forward to returning soon.  From now until April 20, outstanding works selected from the "Electronic Device Construction Competition", "Book Creation Competition" and "Stamp Design Competition" will be exhibited at the Museum.

Only one question was still puzzling me as we left the museum: Why did I not become a pilot or a postman?

Opening Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)
Location: Estrada de D. Maria II, no.7
Admission: MOP$10 (Free on 1 Mar)
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2871 8063 / 2871 8570
http://macao.communications.museum

Wandering in Old Macau

In the 1950's, Rua dos Mercadores, Rua das Estalagens and Rua do Ervan?rio were three main conjoining streets in Macau and locals regard the three byways as an old village now. Want to know more about local daily life? Visiting this fascinating area is far and away the best idea . . .

Let's begin with Rua dos Mercadores. Linking famous tourist area Av. Almeida Ribeiro and Senado Square, a variety of shops offer visitors everything from digital devices to Chinese medicine. 

As an intersection of Chinese and Western cultures, stores in Rua das Estalagens and Rua do Ervan?rio provide Chinese and Western antiques and rattan furniture at a reasonable price. You may get a pleasant surprise! 

If sightseeing is not your thing, do try the popular cuisine in Rua do Ervan?rio. Open every evening, Keong Kei's mutton hotpot is especially good for warming the cockles of the heart in chilly weather . . . with giblets congee and tofu dessert another unique choice for visitors. While wandering in the old village is a delight, why not take your camera for memories that will last even longer.

Programme Preview

The A-Ma Festival is one of Macau's most important events. Every year - on 23rd March of the lunar calendar - many devotees and visitors gather at Tin Hau Temple to commemorate the festival. See the colourful spectacle for yourself on April 28 at the A-Ma Cultural Village on Coloane Island.

The Feast of Pak Tai will be held on April 8 (3rd  March of the lunar calendar) in Pak Tai Temple, where crowds often gather at this time to experience the atmosphere of a Chinese religious festival.
 
The annual Myanmar Overseas Chinese Water Festival will take place on April 27 to 30 in the old Three Lamps District. This year marks the 13th  occasion the festival has been celebrated - and, as usual, folk dances and parades will be the order of the day!

The exhibition "Plato in the Land of Confucius - Greek Art from the Louvre" completes its Asian tour in Macau in April, with more pieces on display than any exhibition before. Some will be exhibited outside France for the first time ever.

Angela Hewitt is regarded as one of the foremost Bach pianists of her generation. In the "Angela Hewitt Piano Recital" on April 22 she will perform masterpieces by the maestro from his "Well-Tempered Clavier Book I".

Macau Cultural Centre programs' 24-Hour Ticketing Hotline:
Macau (853) 2855 5555, Hong Kong (852) 2380 5083, Mainland China (86) 139 269 11111 Website: www.macauticket.com

Photos: Macau Government Tourist Office, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Government Information Bureau, Macau Communication Museum, Macau United Dance Association, The Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel, Aplus PR and Advertising Company, General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau, Art For All, Centre for Creative Industries, Old Ladies’ House Art Space