| Tourism: Welcome the Lunar New Year in Sprightly Macau |
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Looking for a place with a festive atmosphere to spend your Chinese New Year vacation? Consider what Macau has to offer. On New Year’s Eve (February 13 in 2010), join the throngs praying for good luck in the new year at the colorful A-Ma Temple – and be sure to buy a pinwheel from one of the stalls outside the temple, since the Chinese believe that they can bring good fortune! At 11 p.m. that evening, the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) will host a fireworks display on the waterfront near Macau Tower. It’s a great photo opportunity. On February 14 and 15, follow the parade of dragon and lion dancers as it wends its way through town, starting at the Ruins of St. Paul's and proceeding to Senado Square, A-Ma Temple, Macau Fisherman's Wharf, Rua da Cunha, and Av. da Praia in Taipa. MGTO and the Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau will distribute Lai Si or “lucky packets” along the way. Additional events will be held at Senado Square, Tap Seac Square, Macau Tower, and Macau Fisherman's Wharf. Attending exhibitions is also a good way to spend the holiday while getting a fuller understanding of Macau. The exhibition of Historical Paintings of Macau in the 19th century is already under way at the Macau Museum of Art, continuing till February 14. It features 74 historical paintings by renowned Western artists such as George Chinnery and Marciano Antonio Baptista whose work recorded community life in old Macau, in addition to capturing the landscape of the region. The Museum of Taipa and Coloane History Exhibition is also worth a visit, both to appreciate the picturesque Portuguese-style building it is housed in and to view the displays of historic village artifacts and religious items. So too is the documentary photography exhibition, “In Love with the Macanese,” at the House of the Islands, a typical historic Portuguese residence in the leafy Taipa district. It meticulously documents the living habits, customs, education, and religious observances of the Macanese. To follow up that historical exposure with a more modern perspective, visit the Macau Tower, which has been turned into an arena for showing off China's contemporary architecture. The mythological Chinese warrior, Na Zha (哪吒), comes to life to guide the tour, with miniature models on display of 10 architectural masterpieces, including the Macau Science Centre, China Central Television Headquarters Building, Beijing’s National Stadium (“The Bird's Nest”) and National Aquatics Centre (“The Water Cube”), Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and others. While in Macau for the holiday, be sure to greet the people you meet with Kung Hei Fat Choi (恭喜發財) to wish them a Happy New Year. The festive atmosphere will also be evident in the way windows and doors have been decorated with red paper-cuts and couplets on the themes of “Happiness,” “Wealth,” and “Longevity.” Many people will be dressed in new clothes to signify a new start in a new year, and parents will give red envelopes containing gifts of pocket money to their children. You can join the holiday atmosphere by dressing in red as well.
For more information and free brochures, visit MGTO at 10F-C, 167 DunHua North Rd., Taipei 105.
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