Historic Centre of Macau, World Heritage Site in China

Macau, an international trading port, was under Portuguese control from the mid-16th century until 1999. The town is full of historical architecture, including mansions, churches, fortresses, and squares that combine Portuguese and Chinese architectural styles!

Here, in this issue, a World Heritage enthusiast explains in an easy-to-understand manner why the Historic Centre of Macau is a World Heritage Site. Read this and you will definitely learn more about the Historic Centre of Macau!

What is the Historic Centre of Macau? Where is it located?

As the gateway between China and Europe, Macau has played a strategic role in world trade; when Portugal was allowed to settle in Macau in 1557, it became a colony in 1887 and belonged to Portugal until 1999. Although it is now one of China’s special administrative regions, it has been settled by people of many different nationalities and has been influenced by the West, as the town was home to theaters, universities, hospitals, churches, and fortresses. And many of these are still in use.

In particular, the “Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral” was built by the Jesuits in the 16th century and was the largest Catholic church in Asia. The stone facade is a symbolic presence, and the oriental atmosphere of the church can be felt only in Macau, a place of exchange between East and West.

Macau has the characteristics of a European port city, with an urban structure of public squares in dense blocks along narrow winding streets. The “Senado Square” offers an elegant view of what is truly a European square. And the “Great Tower of the General Office of Civil Administration,” which stands between the squares, is a neoclassical-style building and was used as the main building of the administrative district.

Even many Western buildings were built with Chinese designs, and this mixed culture permeated even the lifestyles of the people. Even today, Macau still retains its own unique culture, which has a wide range of influences, including religion, education, language, and cuisine.

For what reason is Macau on the World Heritage List?

Macau was evaluated for the following points.

Registration Criteria (ii)
that Macau has seen exchange in various fields of culture, science, technology, art, and architecture over the centuries.

Registration Criteria (iii)
That Macau was a place of cultural exchange between Europe and China from the 16th to the 20th century by merchants and missionaries, the influence of which can be seen in the Old City and other places where various cultures are blended.

Registration Criterion (iv)
Macau means that the city is dotted with many architectural structures that combine Western and Chinese civilizations built over a period of about four and a half centuries.

Registration Criteria (vi)
Macau has been the site of cultural, scientific, and technological exchanges between Western and Chinese civilizations. The point is that these have had a significant impact on subsequent China.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Comments

Although it has been more than 20 years since Macau was converted from China, it still retains an atmosphere different from that of mainland China. The old town gives the feeling of a Portuguese town before the reversion, and the fact that it is still active is wonderful.

However, the appreciation extends not only to the architecture, but also to the culture.For example, “Macau cuisine” is a fusion of Chinese and Portuguese cuisines, especially “African chicken,” a spicy dish that still retains vestiges of the Age of Discovery. Incidentally, African chicken can be ordered at high-end restaurants.

*The content here is a discussion derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.