Through a few choice characters carved into granite, boundary stones offer glimpses into past iterations of Macao’s Chinese communities. Historical researcher Tam Chon Ip has been tracking down these previously undocumented markings for over a decade – a mission that’s become a race against urban development.
“Mapmorphosis” packed five centuries’ worth of geography lessons into one exhibition while celebrating map making as a craft. And it paid homage to the human beings – from explorers to engravers to colourists – who dedicated their lives to creating beautiful, practical, world-changing works of art.
Members of the Macau Numismatic Society are all avid collectors of money, though not as legal tender. For them, the value of coins and banknotes lies in their ability to tell a story of the past.
Bamboo has long been used in Macao’s construction industry, primarily as scaffolding. But as this eco-friendly material gradually gets replaced by steel, there are people fighting for its inclusion in a wider range of building activities.
For almost two decades, the Macao Heritage Ambassadors Association has been convincing visitors that there’s more to this city than integrated resorts. The group also reminds locals that what is here is precious.
From simple Chinese fishing vessels to the grand galleons sailed by Portuguese traders, Macao’s waters once brimmed with boats. Now, the best place to see them is inside the city’s ship-shaped museum.
Ben Rongen was there when a crew of marine archeologists recovered a massive haul of 17th-century ‘kraak ware’ from the bottom of the South China Sea. He’s been upcycling this imperfect treasure ever since – crafting jewellery out of shipwrecked ceramics.
In the early 20th century, a devout Buddhist and his reformist friends ran a college for women. The archives amassed during this time – at Kong Tac Lam Temple – has just been awarded special new status by UNESCO.
Can you truly understand a place without knowing its past? Meet the people keeping Macao’s fascinating history alive.
Throughout these sometimes rocky centuries, Macao has provided a base for the two countries’ diplomatic and trade relations.