Category: Knowledge

▋1. Ruins of St Paul

Traveling Macau without visiting the Ruins of St Paul literally means not visiting Macau attractions at all. It is one of the most visited Macau attraction. Originally built in 17th century, it was destroyed by fire in 1835 & what remains till today is the facade of the Church & St Paul’s college.

2. Senado Square

Senado Square has been Macau’s urban centre for centuries & still a popular venue for celebrations. It is paved with a wave-patterned mosaic colored stones created by the Portuguese.

3. Venetian Macau

Venetian Macau the world largest casino, is one of Asia’s most exciting entertainment destination, and nowhere else in Asia will you find such a rare combination of facilities, attractions and amenities.

All 3,000 of its room are suites, each with more than 70 sqm of space and lavish Italian marble bathrooms take luxury to a new level.

Experience shopping with over 350 international shops, be dazzled by the street performers, or take a ride on an authentic Venetian gondola, all at the resort.

4. A Ma Temple

Macau’s name is derived from A-Ma-Gau or Place of A-Ma and this temple dedicated to the seafarers’ goddess dates from the early 16th century.

According to legend, A-Ma, a poor girl looking for passage to Canton, was refused by the wealthy junk owners but a lowly fisherman took her on board. A storm blew up and wrecked all but the boat carrying the girl.

On arrival in Macau she vanished, to reappear as a goddess, on the spot where the fishermen built her temple.

5. Macau Fisherman’s Wharf

Macau Fisherman’s Wharf is a 111,500m² park and the first-ever cultural, themed and creative attraction in the tourism industry of Macau.

Centrally located in the outer harbour and it is not purely a theme park, but also combines dining, shopping, entertainment, accommodation, convention and exhibition facilities in one single location which takes just a 5-minute walk from the Macau-HK Ferry Terminal and Heliport.

6. Macau Tower

Soaring 338 meters above the city, the Macau Tower is the 10th highest freestanding tower in the world and the 8th tallest in Asia.

At the Outdoor Observation Deck the Tower dominates the skyline and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Macau cityscape, China, the Pearl River and even some islands of Hong Kong on a clear day.

There is also a Revolving Tower Restaurant seating 250 persons which takes 60 minutes to make one revolution.

7. Kun Iam Statue

This statue is dedicated to Goddess of Mercy. It is 20 meters tall and made of special bronze. The dome shape base like a lotus flower, is an ecumenical centre where information is available on Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

8. Wine & Grand Prix Museum

Situated just side by side, Macau Wine & Grand Prix Museum is one of the interesting places to visit in Macau.

The Wine Museum is the only one of its kind in Asia. One of the main targets of Wine Museum is to bring the visitor into contact with the social, economical and cultural importance of the wine in the Portuguese tradition, daily life and celebration rituals.

The visitor can even taste different types of wine (wine tasting – “Prova de vinhos”), a unique experience for only a small price.

The Grand Prix Museum in Macau contains exhibits that are related to Grand Prix worldwide including photos, videos, illustrated articles, cups, records of champions and some commemorative items.

It was built in 1933 in memory of the 40th anniversary of Grand Prix Racing in Macau and is located in the Tourism Activities Center on Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes.

Special Note : Wine Museum is closed on Tuesday.

9. St Lawrence Church

This is probably the richest & most beautiful church in Macau, not only of its decorations but also because of the objects displayed in the church.

Originally it was built by wood in 16th century, renovated to the existing one from the 19th century.

10.Greyhound Racing

Macau Greyhound Racing takes place at the Canidrome on Avenida General Castelo Branco. These races are held on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and weekends starting from 7:45 p.m. and there are 16 games on every racing evenings.

Admission is MOP$10 (usable for betting) for the public stand. Boxes are MOP$80 (Monday to Thursday) and MOP$120 (Friday to Sunday and Public Holidays) with a minimum charge of MOP$30 per person.

Bar, snack-bars and restaurant facilities are available.

11. Guia Fortress

Guia Fortress was initially designed to defend Macau from attacks from the sea, but because of its position overlooking the entire city, its chief value has been as an observation post.

The lighthouse stands at 91 meters tall, and has a light visible for some 20 miles in clear weather conditions. The Guia Fortress was a restricted military area until 1976 when it opened as a major tourist attraction.

12. City of Dreams

City of Dreams is a unique integrated resort combining electrifying entertainment, an amazing array of accommodation, regional and international dining, as well as designer brand shopping.

With The Bubble, a spectacular multi-media attraction and The Boulevard, a chic lifestyle precinct encompassing entertainment, restaurants and shopping boutiques, City of Dreams is the must-experience destination in Macau.

13. Dom Pedro V Theatre

Dom Pedro V Theatre is situated at Largo de Santo Agostinho, is one of the first western-style theatres in China. The theatre is an important landmark in the region and remains a venue for important public events and celebrations today.

The theatre is neo-classical in design, incorporating a portico front on a rectilinear plan.

14. Macau Museum

Macau Museum was inaugurated in 1998. Its aim is to preserve the cultural traditions, usages and habits, which specifically belong to Macau, in a place where East, and West have so peculiarly learned how to meet and to live side by side along the centuries.

15. Camoes Garden

Camoes Garden and Grotto, is Macau’s largest park & one of the oldest parks. After the British moved out in 1835, it was bought over by a Portuguese merchant, who later built his resident house there.

The merchant adored raising doves and his hundreds of doves always hovered near the garden, forming a marvelous scene famous near and far.

After the death of the merchant, the garden was donated to the government and later opened to public as a memorial garden dedicated to Louis de Camoes, a famous Portuguese poet who lived four hundred years ago. Hence the name Luis de Camoes Garden.

It is a popular spot for locals to do their morning exercises, to play chess, to walk their caged birds or to meet with friends.

▋Victoria Peak

Perching on The Peak at 396 metres above sea level, The Peak Tower is one of the most stylish architectural Hong Kong attractions.

Inside The Peak Tower, there is a dazzling array of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues set against the beautiful backdrop of the city.

Moreover, The Peak Tower boasts the highest 360° viewing platform – The Sky Terrace which offers spectacular panoramic views of the vibrant city.

Avenue of Stars

To pay tribute to outstanding professionals of Hong Kong’s film industry, HK$40 million was sponsored for the construction of the Avenue of Stars.

Avenue of Stars is located along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong and is modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Symphony of Lights

The Symphony of Lights is the “World’s Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” by Guinness World Records, has been further expanded to include more than 40 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour.

A stunning, unforgettable spectacle synchronised to music and narration that celebrates the energy, spirit and diversity of Hong Kong.

Every night starting 8pm

Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland is the first theme park inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and is the fifth Magic Kingdom-style park. Located at Penny’s Bay, Lantau Island.

Come & experience the wonderful magical moments with your special ones in Disneyland.

Ocean Park

Ocean Park is a major attraction in Hong Kong, any visit to Hong Kong should include the world famous Ocean Park.

The park has won several awards, including The World’s Seventh Most Popular Amusement Park and 33rd Most Visited Tourist Attractions in the World by Forbes.

Ocean Park has now grown to about 40 attractions and rides.Ngong Ping 360

Preserving the natural ecological environment and features of the Ngong Ping area and converging the custom and culture of the Lantau Island.

Ngong Ping 360 is sure to refresh your body and enlighten your mind, as soon as you step on the Cable Car.

Ngong Ping Village is set on a 1.5 hectare site on Lantau Island, adjacent to Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue.

Looking up to the southwest from Tei Tan square in the middle of the Po Lin Monastery plaza, you will see a flight of 268 steps leading to the world’s largest outdoor bronze statue – the Giant Buddha.

Repulse Bay

Repulse Bay’s name comes from a 19th century battle in which the British army repulsed attacking pirates. Today, Repulse Bay is a luxurious residential area with the wide, wave-lapped beach is popular with locals and visitors alike.

Aberdeen Harbour & Jumbo Kingdom

Aberdeen harbour is home to hundreds of people living on fishing junks. Here a huge contrast of modern & traditional setting take place.

To get a close-up look at the Aberdeen way of life, visit Jumbo Kingdom, a brainchild of Dr. Stanley Ho, the world-renowned Jumbo Floating Restaurant was established in October 1976.

It took four years and millions of dollars to design and build. It is ornamented in the style of a gorgeous and exquisite ancient Chinese imperial palace.

Lan Kwai Fong

The night is always young at Lan Kwai Fong, a buzzing centre of clubs, bars and restaurants.

It is a must for party goers & people watchers to visit this Western-style restaurants, nightclubs, delicatessens and bars.

Hollywood Road

Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row (also known as “Cat Street”), are must-see stops on every visitor’s itinerary.

The street is crammed with antique shops and an open-air curio market, these quaint locales are ideal places for picking up eclectic souvenirs and gifts.

Everything from Ming dynasty furniture and lotus lamps to Mao badges and ancient snuff bottles is on sale here.

Nearby Man Mo Temple is a picturesque tribute to the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo).

The temple is located about halfway along the road and a stop in its quiet, incense-shrouded interior makes a pleasant break.

Stanley Market & Murray House

Stanley Market is a popular market town on the sunny south side of Hong Kong Island. With its relaxed ambiance, crisp sea environs and bargain buys have made it world famous.

You will find an interesting array of little shops selling silk garments, sportswear, art, Chinese costume jewelry and souvenirs.

A hard morning of shopping is always nicely finished off by a sumptous lunch at one of the many restaurant such as Murray House.

Situated beside Murray House is Blake Pier at Stanley.

Ladies Street

Anyone who visits Hong Kong would surely knows the existence of this famous street.

It is a must-visit destination for fashion lovers with an eye for bargain-priced clothing, bags, accessories, toys, cosmetics and household products.

Temple Street Night Market

Temple Street is the busiest flea market at night in the territory of Jordan and Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon.

Popular with both tourists and locals alike in the evening, it is common to see the place crowded at dusk.

Fa Yuen Street Market

While Ladies Market is by far the bigger and brasher of the two, Fa Yuen Street is also a brilliant introduction to consumerism, Hong Kong style.

There is so much to see and buy here that the path that runs down the center is no wider than one person at some points while the stock is stacked so high that vendors need to use poles to retrieve many items.

Jade Market

The Jade Market, just west of Nathan Road on the junction of Kansu and Battery Streets, is where vendors sell various shades and qualities of jade, a greenish stone found in East Asia.

Jade is a unique ornamental stone that can be found predominantly in East Asia and the worlds biggest trading centre for Jade is Hong Kong.

Visitors can purchase various kinds of products made out of Jade at the Jade Market. Its product line includes jade rings, jade animals and even jade statues of Buddha. Special jade souvenirs and various trinkets are an ideal piece of memory to take home with.

Top quality jade is pure green and very expensive. Most pieces have a yellow tinge but no brown or grey should be in the finished piece. The best jadeite is semi-transparent. Opaque jadeite with cloudy patches typically has less value.

The market opens daily from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Yuen Po Street Bird Market / Flower Market / Goldfish Market

Yuen Po Street Bird Market is a charming Chinese-style garden is the favoured gathering place of Hong Kong’s songbird owners, who carry their beloved pets around in intricately carved cages.

The market contains some 70 songbird stalls as well as interesting courtyards and moon gates. Open from 7am to 8pm.

The Flower Market features an array of bright and colorful, sweet-scented flowers of different interesting species.

A jungle of exotic blossoms, luck-bringing houseplants and sweet scents to be found in more than 50 shops. It’s fun to walk around the market admiring the huge variety of flowers and plants for sale.

It conducts a wholesale and retail business of flowers at lucrative price offers. The fragrance and beauty of the flowers displayed in this market create a charming aura. Many bonsai trees and indoor plants signifying good luck are also sold out here.

The Goldfish Market is on Tung Choi Street south of Prince Edward Road West, and it is the place for fish lovers to go to for all manner of fish-related products. The whole street is full of shops selling all sorts of colorful fishes from fresh water species to deep sea species.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of Hong Kong most famous temple, dedicated to the Great Immortal Wong.

Locals & tourists could be seen daily making their prayers at the temple. The temple is known for granting any wishes thus lots of worshipers whose prayers were answered returning to thank the immortal.

Golden Bauhinia Square

In 1997, marks the important occasion of the return of Hong Kong, the former British colony to the People’s Republic of China, and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

In celebration, China’s Central Government presented a gilded bauhinia statue to Hong Kong. The statue was placed in the square next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre facing the Wan Chai waterfront.

Dont miss the Daily Flag Raising Ceremony – 7.50am to 8.05am

Tai O Fishing Village

Situated on a river mouth, the village is just the ticket if you want a dose of traditional Chinese living.

The houses are built on stilts over the river and its narrow lanes are filled with shops selling fish and other day-to-day items.

The citizens here are mainly the Tanka people who are descendants of Hong Kong’s first settlers.

Take a walk across the quaint bridge that straddles the river where you’ll find back-street lanes twisting through the clutter of houses.

Hong Kong Wet Land Park

Home to a stunning array of wildlife including birds, dragonflies, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and fish, Hong Kong Wet Land Park is a world-class ecotourism facility aimed at promoting green tourism, education on environmental protection and wetland conservation.

▋Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the exchange of goods.

History of Banknotes

Brief history of coin

Circulating Coins

Security Features of Hong Kong Bank Notes

▋The following security features are incorporated into genuine Hong Kong banknotes:

• Paper: The banknote paper is made of 100% cotton fibre, which does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light.
• Polymer: The ten-dollar banknotes are made of polymer, and have a transparent panel.
• Watermarks: The watermarks are incorporated during the paper manufacturing process. They can be viewed equally well from either side of the note. The images are multi-toned and sharp, and do not show up when placed under ultraviolet light.
• Security thread: A straight metal thread is embedded in the note. It can be viewed equally clearly from either side of the note.
• See-through features: When the note is held up to the light, the specially designed color patterns printed on the front and back will be seen to be exactly aligned with each other.
• Intaglio printing: The main images of the notes are printed by an intaglio printing process which deposits a large quantity of ink on the paper thus giving the note an embossed feel. The fine lines of these images are clear and sharp.

Adopted from Hong Kong Monetary Authority

▋For modern coins in general circulation the most common method of protection from forgeries is the use of bi-metallic coins, made of two metals of different colour, which are difficult to counterfeit at low cost.

The most common way of forging these coins is to change the area that should be a different colour by painting it, however the paint is often easy to scratch off and the coins soon look very crude once worn.

An increasing number of coins are cast from the same composition alloy as the real coin, but have poor reproduction of details such as the milling on the side of the coin and the stamped lettering.

When the euro was introduced into Europe there were initially very few counterfeits, however the number increased massively as time went by. The high and increasing number of fake euro coins in circulation in 2004 led to the creation of a Technical and Scientific Center for the coordination of technical actions to protect euro coins against counterfeiting. 

It was estimated that 3.04% of all UK £1 coins in circulation are counterfeit. Between 2002 and 2006 approximately 400,000 counterfeit euro coins were removed from circulation, however “the overall number is very small by historical standards and by comparison to the 69 billion circulating (genuine) euro coins”

▋The idea of using a durable light-weight substance as evidence of a promise to pay a bearer on demand originated in China during the Han Dynasty in 118 BC, and was made of leather. 

The first known banknote was first developed in China during the Tang and Song dynasties, starting in the 7th century. Its roots were in merchant receipts of deposit during the Tang Dynasty (618–907), as merchants and wholesalers desired to avoid the heavy bulk of copper coinage in large commercial transactions. During the Yuan Dynasty, banknotes were adopted by the Mongol Empire.

In Europe, the concept of banknotes was first introduced during the 13th century by travelers such as Marco Polo, with European banknotes appearing in 1661 in Sweden.

▋Coins were introduced as a method of payment around the 6th or 5th century BCE. The invention of coins is still shrouded in mystery: According to Herdotous (I, 94), coins were first minted by the Lydians, while Aristotle claims that the first coins were minted by Demodike of Kyrme, the wife of King Midas of Phrygia. Numismatists consider that the first coins were minted on the Greek island of Aegina, either by the local rulers or by king Pheidon of Argos.

Coins were brought to India through the Achaemenid Empire, as well as the successor kingdoms of Alexander the Great. The most beautiful coins of the classical age are said to have been minted by Samudragupta (335-376 CE), who portrayed himself as both conqueror and musician.

The first coins were made of electrum, an alloy of silver and gold.

In China, gold coins were first standardized during the Qin dynasty (221-207 BCE). After the fall of the Qin dynasty, the Han emperors added two other legal tenders: silver coins and “deerskin notes”, a predecessor of paper currency which was a Chinese invention.

▋When a customer has an issue with the machine, who can they turn to for complaint? For their money back? For the product that got stuck in the machine? They sometimes turn their frustration towards the machine and cause damage not only to the machine but to the area around the machine, like scratching the floor or damaging walls. This frustration can mount to a decrease in vending machine sales.

Therefore, it is important to Keep Machine Working. If customers are experiencing repeat problems, such as the bill validator will not take their dollar bills, then fixing the problem is essential to keep those customers coming back to your vending machine and achieving great vending machine sales. The more problems people have with vending machines, the less likely they are going to be buying product from vending machines.

Although keeping machines operating properly and clean takes time, it is time well spent in order to attract people to come to the machine and make purchases. Even if it takes replacing a vending machine altogether (as long as it is cost effective to do so), giving customers that convenience experience goes a long way in increasing happiness and increasing vending machine sales.

Also, respond to complaints quickly. The best way is to have at least some contact information on the machines at all times. Phone number, email address, even a Twitter handle could offer customers a chance to contact vendors and report any issue. During off hours, vendors can also use call centers to handle complaints. The faster vendors deal with complaints, the better customers feel, and better numbers of vending machine sales. They feel validated in that their input is important and that their business is appreciated. Happy customers means repeat customers; therefore, responding quickly to their complaints is essential to give them a great customer experience.

Keep Good Relations with the Point of Contact (POC). For office buildings, apartments, hospitals, etc, there will always be a POC for vendors and route drivers. This person will receive complaints from customers, take down names for people needing refunds, and take notes of problems people have had with the machines. They are essentially working for the vendor for free.

Keeping a good relation with this person will make their experience with a vendor’s company much better. If one day, a vendor sees that the person is upset because they have spent too much time receiving complaints about a machine, vendors should try giving them a soda or snack as a means of saying thank you. A little gratitude can go a long way, and vendors will want their POCs on their side because they can be great references for larger accounts in the future and increase revenue from vending machine sales.

▋Automat, first opened in New York July 2, 1912, in Times Square. The gleaming machines were successfully marketed as gleaming, newfangled gadgets that dispensed fresh food barely touched by human hands. Eventually, more than 40 Automats and cafeterias opened in New York.

Horn & Hardart Co. advertised its “New Method of Lunching” with a time-tested invitation: “Try it! You’ll Like It!!”

“The concept of quick lunch was a New York innovation,” said Laura Shapiro, a culinary historian who is working on the exhibition. “Time and money and speed ruled the New York day.”

As an Australian observer wrote a few years after the Automat opened in New York, the average man becomes a “manipulator of destiny,” suddenly finding himself “before Ali Baba’s cave. He whispers ‘Open sesame!’ and lo! a ham sandwich or a peach dumpling is his for the taking, also for a nickel.”

Until industrialization, lunch was called dinner and typically was consumed at home. The proliferation of blue-collar and white-collar workers transformed that institution into the lunch hour (or half-hour). Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart borrowed the Automat concept from Europe, where it had been developed in the 1880s. John Fritsche, the company’s chief engineer, perfected the machines.

At its peak, Horn & Hardart, through its Automats, the waiter-less cafeterias that often accompanied them and its retail shops, was feeding as many as 750,000 people a day.

The Automat, which first opened in Philadelphia, was democratic, because its tables accommodated customers from every class. It replaced the free lunch at saloons shuttered by Prohibition. The chrome and brass vending machines framed by Italian marble conveyed cleanliness, because the workers who prepared the food were invisible behind the spinning steel drums that fed the machines. Patrons could choose exactly which piece of pie or crock of baked beans they preferred (all of the dishes were prepared at a commissary on 11th Avenue).

In a doctoral dissertation at Cornell University, Alec Tristin Shuldiner noted that compared with Philadelphians, New Yorkers wanted more sugar in their stewed tomatoes, favored seafood, except for oysters, craved clam chowder and chicken pies, and eschewed scrapple.

With no cash registers, the cost of several courses was never computed. Tipping, originally rejected by Americans as an anti-democratic gesture that validated class distinctions, was superfluous, and therefore saved customers money. (Smoking was not allowed, either.)

The writer Alfred Kazin recalled his daily routine with the historian Richard Hofstadter: “We’d work all morning at the New York Public Library, eat lunch at the Automat across the street, play one game of Ping-Pong — at which he’d beat me — at a pool parlor on 42nd Street. Then we’d work the rest of the day.”

▋The first vending machine in Japan sold cigarettes, and was introduced in 1888. Now, annual sales from vending machines reach almost 6.95 trillion yen. Why Japan’s love for vending machines? Three main reasons are usually attributed:

1. Japan’s low crime rate – vending machines, whether inside or outside, are seldom broken into.
2. Japan’s love for convenience – the ability to purchase whatever you want wherever you want is culturally appealing.
3. Japan’s knack for quirky cool and the quest for the latest trend – who wouldn’t queue up to be one of the first to buy something not available anywhere else?