 Macau is a place where you can purchase almost anything, and have a wonderful time doing it. Luxury items are cheaper here than in other cities in the region. Jewelry (particularly 24-carat gold), cameras, porcelain, electronic items, mobile phones, watches, cashmere sweaters and silk clothing are available at very reasonable prices. It
is also a great treasure trove
for Chinese antiques and collectibles. You can find here ancient coins,
19th century stocks and shares, stamps and other printed material (Rua
das Estalagens and Rua da Tercena); boxes of tea (Rua Cinco de Outubro)
and coffee from around the world (Estrada do Cemiterio and Avenida do
Coronel
Mesquita); traditional shops where tea is displayed in wooden drawers
and
glass goblets; and countless old Chinese Pharmacies packed with
traditional
medicines (Rua de S.Paulo and Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva). These are
just a few examples to illustrate how adventurous and fascinating
shopping
in Macau can be. Now it's up to you to explore.
Duty Free
and top-of-the-market goods - what's available and where
Duty
free shop and top-of-the
market goods, what's available and where up-market boutiques selling
internationally
recognized labels are found at Macau Fisherman's Wharf, New Yaohan
department
store, Landmark, Hotel Grand Lapa. Retail Shopping with luxury brands
are
located at the Wynn Esplanade's, The Grand Canal Shops, The Shops at
Four
Seasons, The Boulevard at City of Dreams and One Central Macau. There
are
duty free shops at the Ferry Terminal, Macau International Airport and
on the mainland side of the Barrier Gate.
Clothing
- discount stores Macau has more than a few hundred functioning textile and garment factories, most of which produce clothing for markets in European Union, USA, North America and Asia Pacific. Overruns and seconds are to be found in shops and market stalls, at prices a fraction of what they are in the world's leading boutiques. The range of clothing is enormous, however the most widely available are jeans, children's wear and sports clothes. You
can also find dressy jackets
with Mandarin collars and frog fastenings traditional Chinese style in
a wide variety of interesting and attractive fabrics at the markets
around
São Domingos near Senado Square, and in the Three Lamps district
(Rotunda de Carlos da Maia) near the Red Market.
Furniture
and Antiques - authentic or reproductions
There
are many excellent shops
selling authentic antiques and fine reproductions all over Macau, and
in
Coloane village, but the most convenient area is bounded by Rua de São
Paulo, Rua das Estalagens, and Rua Stº António, all in the
neighborhood of St Paul's at the foot of Monte Fort.
Flea Markets
The
most popular flea market in
Macau is near St Paul's but a little off the beaten tourist track.
Follow
Rua de São Paulo to Rua das Estalagens and turn down the hill to
the next narrow street. Go past the shops selling antiques, the tailor
shops, and other small shops until the road reaches a fork.
The Best
Neighborhoods to Shop: around historic Senado Square and the Red Market
Nearby, the Sun Star City, on Rua de Pedro Nolasco, and Sportstar, a two-storey arcade of specialty shops on Rua da Palha, offer a wide variety of clothing, watches, and stylish accessories like sunglasses, handbags, shoes and novelty items. On the other side of Avenida Almeida Ribeiro is a shopping area for the more adventurous. Follow Rua do Dr. Soares uphill behind the Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau building until you reach Rua da Felicidade. Turn right and continue down past the restored 19th century shophouses in Felicidade, once a thriving red-light district. This is a fascinating place to browse among shops selling jewelry, curios, dried beef and even live snakes. The Red Market is located on the corner of Avenida Almirante Lacerda and Avenida Horta e Costa.This is a bustling market where vendors sell food of every conceivable kind. Avenida
Horta e Costa is a long
street full of shops that begins at the Red Market and extends as far
as
the Flora Gardens beneath Guia Hill. The avenue has several up-market
shops
specializing in, among other things, clothing and shoes, electronic
items
and cameras. But the best bargains are found in the streets surrounding
the street. The historic "Three Lamps" (Rotunda Carlos da Maia) and
surrounding
streets are full of tiny shops selling many kinds of goods at bargain
prices. Portuguese
Wines - excellence at reasonable prices
The
delights of Portuguese wine
could fill a book, but for a brief introduction, visit the Wine Museum
in the Tourism Activities Center before setting out to buy them. All
supermarkets,
and even the smaller grocery stores in Macau display many different
kinds
of Portuguese wine at prices ranging from about MOP$30 for an ordinary
table wine to several hundred for a fine aged Port.
Art - galleries
and shops Macau has many resident artists and their work can often be seen in local galleries. Temporary exhibitions open to the public are held at the Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau, Casa Garden, the ground floor of the Ritz Building, on Senado Square, and the Tourism Activities Centre. Works
shown at these exhibitions
are usually for sale. Traditional Chinese paintings can be found at
Chinese
arts and crafts stores, and the one on Avenida Almeida Ribeiro near the
Senado Square has a wide selection to choose from. For older works of
art,
browse through the selections on sale in several shops on Rua de Stº
António. Jewelry
There are many grades of gold available in Macau which is imported duty-free and so can be an exceptional bargain. Silver, pearls, precious and and semi-precious stones are also duty-free and available in abundance. In fact, the selection is limited only by the amount you want to pay. There
are many reputable jewelry
shops near major hotels, on Avenida Almeida Ribeiro and on Avenida
Horta
e Costa. It is always a good idea to shop around and compare prices
before
making a high-priced purchase. Ask for a warranty card for jewelry and
gold items and be sure to keep your receipts.
Traditional
Chinese Delicacies There are very few neighborhoods in Macau where you won't find numerous shops selling dried meat and seafood, herbs and other traditional Chinese foodstuffs and medicines.
Taipa
Island is famous for its
traditional cookies, and in the old village there are shops that have
been
baking and selling the same fragrant sweet morsels for generations. In
Macau you may find pastry shops at the Av. Infante D. Henrique, Av. D.
João IV , Travessa de S. Domingos, and along Rua de S. Paulo, near
St. Paul's. Many other delectable confections found in local shops make
good presents with the "taste of Macau" for visitors to take home with
them. A famous Portuguese specialty in Macau is "Pastéis de Nata",
little egg tarts, which are sold at good cafes and bakeries in the city
and Coloane. They are best when eaten warm from the oven.
Taipa Flea
Market The Taipa Flea Market takes place every Sunday in a picturesque area of Taipa Island, between Bombeiros Square and Camões Square in the heart of the old village. There
are many booths selling
traditional crafts and souvenirs, food and beverages, brand name items
and trifles, clothes, toys and other products. From 11 am to 8 pm.,
during
the fair, there are cultural and recreational events at Maia de
Magalhães
Square. There are convenient car parks and public transportation in the
area. Museum Shops
for Only-in-Macau Items If you are looking for souvenirs that could only come from Macau, the museum shops are a good place to look. The Grand Prix Museum has some wonderful books, videotapes and other items connected to Macau's most important sporting event, and the world's foremost Formula 3 competition. Other Museum shops, like the one at the Macau Museum, have a variety of souvenirs, many of them beautifully crafted and unique to Macau. The Maritime Museum offers fascinating books and imaginative gifts like model kits for the unique "lorchas" that plied the waters around Macau in earlier times and other beautifully designed souvenirs with a nautical touch. Cultural
Club is housed in an
authentic old pawnshop (an valuable historic & cultural
heritage) on
San Ma Lo in the centre of Macau. It consists of five areas, the first
and second areas are the "Pastry Gallery" and "Arts Plaza" with the
souvenirs,
postcards, fine arts, clothes and accessories. The third area namely
"Jin
Yong Library" where the famous Jin Yong specialized novels are housed.
Inside the library, the fourth area namely "Water-Teahouse" provides a
comfortable resting place for visitors and tourists to take a rest. The
fifth area is the "Cultural Exhibition Hall". Painting, fine arts,
Chinese
folk arts exhibitions are held regularly.
Postcards,
Books, Other Magazines For some really interesting and good quality books and prints by authentic Macau artists, do not miss the little shop just inside the Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau. Many
magazines published locally
with editions in Chinese, Portuguese and English of good quality both
for
their photos and text can be found at local stores.
Cameras
and Electronic Goods Many
reputable shops and all department
stores offer the latest in electronic equipment and cameras. There are
camera shops that are especially popular among visitors located on
Avenida
Almeida Ribeiro near the Senado Square and on Avenida Horta e Costa
near
the "Three Lamps". Prices are comparatively low for the wide selection
of high quality items in these shops. Larger shops are recommended for
reliability after-sale service and it is advisable to ask for a
warranty
card along with your receipt. Beware of brand names you do not
recognize
on items in the smaller shops; they may be impossible to repair if
problems
occur later on. Handicrafts
- traditional arts at bargain prices
There are several shops that carry handcrafted goods from China and other parts of Asia in Macau and perhaps the best of these is located on Avenida Almeida Ribeiro near the Senado Square. A
tiny shop selling hand crafted
traditional tea utensils, clothing, and musical instruments can be
found
on Rua de Hong Chau in Taipa Island - it is worth a visit if only for
its
picturesque architecture and stone-lined rustic fountain. To discover
more
about the traditional Chinese tea culture, Macau Tea Culture House next
to Lou Lim Ieoc is recommended. Porcelains
and Fine Ceramics There
are many wholesalers and
retail outlets carrying a huge variety of tableware, vases, and novelty
items at very low prices. Some factories will even custom make a vase
or
set of tableware with your family crest or in a pattern copied from
your
draperies. For more unusual pieces at good prices, try the many shops
around
Rua de São Paulo. Many interesting antique and one-of-a-kind pieces
can also be found in shops on Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, right in the
heart
of the commercial district. Shop with Confidence  Shop with confidence in Macau in shops with the "Certified Logo". These are participating shops at the Consumer Arbitration Centre established by the Macau Consumer Council, and they are certified shops as they do have no recorded consumer complaints. The Consumer Arbitration Centre will act as a middleman, to solve any complaints, of less than MOP$ 50,000.00, reported against these "Certified Logo" shops. For details or assistance, please contact the Macau Consumer Council: Hotline:
(853) 8988 9315 Tourism information office Macau is doted with a very efficient tourist office, publishing an abundant literature and maps. It also efficiently assists tours, sightseeing, restaurants and hotel reservations: MACAU
GOVERNMENT TOURIST
OFFICE  
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