Celebrate Chinese New Year in Macau! Welcome the Year of the Dog in this fascinating destination, which is infused with Chinese and Portugese cultures. Macau, a Portugese colony until 1999 and now a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, is just a one-hour high-speed ferry journey from Hong Kong. Chinese New Year falls on Friday, 16 February and the celebrations last for three days in Macau with 16-18 February all being public holidays. Make the most of the Lunar New Year long weekend with a trip to Macau. Here’s a guide to some of the highlight events.
Macau Tower Fireworks
The Macau Tower stands at 338 metres high and was opened in 2001. The 20th tallest tower in the world, it is one of the focal points of Chinese New Year in Macau, as the setting for a stunning fireworks display. The fireworks will take place on Sunday, 18 February, the third day of the Lunar New Year, at 9.45pm. The best vantage points are from the Taipa waterfront across the bridge, or from the base of the tower. You can also consider watching from from Calcada Da Praia, the lookout near the staircase-like Taipa Monument on Estrada de Sete Tanques or Centro Náutico da Praia Grande to avoid the crowds. History buffs should head to Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen or Estrada Almirante Marques Esparteiro in Taipa where legal stalls will be selling firecrackers and fireworks, a nod to Macau’s past when the firecracker-making trade was the city’s main industry in the 1950s and 1960s.
Chinese New Year Parade
A celebration of Chinese New Year in Macau includes a massive parade on 18 February. The parade begins at Sai Van Lake Square and will march along Avenida Dr Sun Yat-sen and end at the Macao Science Museum. It will feature about 15 floats, including one from Wynn Palace, and more than 1000 local and overseas performances, before ending in time for the fireworks display in front of the Macau Tower. Headlining performances will be delivered by Hong Kong hip-hop duo FAMA and Canto-pop singers Jason Chan and Mag Lam. Celebrity hosts are FAMA, Kitty Yuen, and Germano Guilherme. The parade starts at 8pm.
Tap Seac Square Flower Market
Soak in the atmosphere unique to Macau at the Tap Seac Square Flower Market, where you can buy flowers and Year of the Dog ornaments. The flower market, held in Praça do Tap Seac, will end at 2am on 16 February, the first day of the Lunar New Year. More than 30 stalls in the square will be selling fresh flowers, kumquat trees and other good-luck symbols in the lead-up to Chinese New Year. The flower markets are best visited at night from 8pm onwards.
Luxury Resort
There’s plenty of things to do in Macau, so why not make the most of your getaway from Hong Kong by staying in a luxury hotel? The 28-storey Wynn Palace has all the elements that Steve Wynn has built the reputation of his award-winning properties on. Guests have a choice of 1,706 sumptuous rooms and suites, the most spacious in Macau – even their smallest room is 68 sqm, perfect for a family getaway. Wynn Palace has five fine dining restaurants, and seven casual restaurants. It also offers some of the world’s finest designer labels in its retail esplanade. Wynn Resorts have captured more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any independent hotel company in the world and Wynn Palace has been designed to set a new standard in luxury hospitality. Wynn Palace has a range of attractive advance booking offers – the earlier you book, the larger discount you receive, with a discount of up to 24 percent available on your room, with prices starting at HK$1,358. Register as a Wynn Insider at no extra cost and you will qualify for late 2pm check-out! Book now or sign up to get the latest exclusive discounts.
Related: Things to do in Macau
