Macao has released its Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development for 2026–2030 on August 18. Since the launch of its first five-year plan in 2016, the city has undergone tremendous changes. Yet it was only after I visited the city myself that I truly understood what the city is like—how colourful, diverse, and fascinating it is, and how deeply I love it.
Macao, an incredibly relaxed city
I could clearly feel its relaxation from the very first moment my feet touched its land.
I took a ferry from Hong Kong to Macao on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. The journey took about an hour. When I arrived at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, I was immediately struck by the city’s relaxed atmosphere: clean streets, a gentle breeze, and a slower rhythm of life, completely different from Hong Kong’s fast-paced lifestyle, fast-walking people and narrow streets. Amazing!
A fairytale-like world
What impressed me most about Macao was its colour. Every street is a scene, and every building seems like a work of art.
The lively, down-to-earth atmosphere of Rua do Cunha, the sea breeze of Coloane, the tightly packed residential buildings of the old neighbourhoods, the colourful facades of Travessa da Paixão, the romance of Love Lane. I wandered into one street after another. It felt like walking into a fairytale.
Small in size, rich in cultural heritage; Traces of Portuguese remains.
Macao covers an area of only 33 square kilometres, smaller than Shanghai Pudong International Airport—but its cultural heritage can be found everywhere.
The Historic Centre of Macao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been remarkably well preserved. From the Portuguese-style cobblestone square of Senado Square to the weathered stone façade of the Ruins of St. Paul’s and the historic Monte Fort, traces of Macao’s centuries-old history are everywhere. Every street seemed to tell a story about the centuries of trade, migration, and cultural exchange that have shaped Macao.
Luxury, everyday life Exist side by side
Macao has glamorous, luxurious hotels and casinos, but it also has humble old neighbourhoods. At night, the neon lights begin to glow, and the magnificent casinos and entertainment venues create dazzling extravagance. While, I was at a creative shop, carefully choosing postcards and collecting commemorative stamps.
A city of temptation
Macao has a powerful, dangerous kind of charm.
It is a place where someone might become rich overnight—or lose everything just as quickly. Everyone is welcome to come into the casinos, without discrimination. Luggage storage is free of charge. Snacks are prepared
A City of Inclusiveness
On a city bus, I saw women from Indonesia and the Philippines carrying shopping bags in both hands, chatting happily and animatedly with one another. At the Macao Museum, a Portuguese staff member in uniform patiently answered visitors’ questions in English.
And on Love Lane, I happened to meet a couple from Taiwan, China. We greeted each other warmly and embraced as if we were old friends.
I can list 100 reasons why I love the city. Wish it a brighter future.