Things to Do in China

Bird fanciers and lovers of old-world charm will enjoy this small park and garden with about 70 stalls for bird traders to conduct business.  At one time the traders had their own market in Mongkok, known as Bird Street. This was demolished in the mid-1990s to make way for redevelopment, and the government relocated the traders to Yuen Po in 1997.

The stalls feature a wide array of winged friends in ornate cages, including some particularly lovely teak models. Particularly prized are the songbirds, who provide a constant soundtrack to the garden. Bird fanciers can pick up live feed, including crickets, and other bird-keeping supplies.

The Yuen Po Street Bird Garden also features a flower market and some traditional Chinese touches. The main entrance faces Boundary Street, and the market is open from 7am to 8pm daily.

In few places throughout Macau are the colonial influences of European rule more evident than at the historic Church of St. Dominic. Set at the back of a lively square this Baroque style church is instantly recognizable by its pastel-yellow and cream-colored façade. It's more picturesque on the outside than lively on the inside, and in an artistic touch the front of the church features green shuttered windows which symmetrically flank the three-story bell tower.

Built in 1587 by three Dominican priests from Acapulco, Mexico, the original chapel was ultimately destroyed and replaced in the 17th century with the building which stands today. Notable for being the first place to print a Portuguese language newspaper on Chinese soil (A Abelha da China: The China Bee), the Church of St. Dominic is better known for a violent and tumultuous past.

In what was perhaps the most notorious event, a military officer in 1644 who supported the Spanish against Portugal was murdered at the altar of the church during a regular Mass. Similarly, in 1707, upon receiving orders calling for their excommunication, an order of Dominicans locked themselves inside of the church and bombarded soldiers with a hailstorm of stones during a three-day standoff.

With the occasional violence having subsided long ago, the church now houses a collection of paintings and religious artifacts which date to the 16th century and are collectively known as the "Treasury of Sacred Art." A functioning place of worship for Macau's sizeable Christian population, the Church of St. Dominic is included as one of the buildings listed as part of the UNESCO recognized Historic Centre of Macau.

When the Casino Lisboa first opened in 1970 it set the stage for the gambling legacy which continues to power Macau's economy to this day. With the original 12"“story building was spearheaded by real estate magnate and entrepreneur Stanley Ho, the 2006 addition of the Grand Lisboa brings the total number of rooms in the Lisboa complex to a staggering 2,362 rooms. Located in the Central Business District of Macau, the Casino Lisboa is the iconic, "original" casino of Macau which came to prominence prior to the recent explosion of neighboring casinos built on the reclaimed land of the Cotai Strip.

Despite frequent renovation, the Casino Lisboa manages to retain its welcoming charm and avoids the ostentatious display some of the newer casinos thrust at their deep-pocketed, starry-eyed visitors. With the newly designed Grand Lisboa crafted around the style of a towering lotus leaf, the casino deftly manages to incorporate elements of both Portuguese as well as Chinese features into its design. In addition to the myriad gaming opportunities available within the complex, the Casino Lisboa similarly features award-winning restaurants, a fitness room and salon, and even a swimming pool where gamers can cool off before turning up the heat at the baccarat table or the casino's infamous Cabaret show.

Yuexiu Park, covering 247 acres in the heart of Guangzhou, is laced with walking paths winding past lakes, playgrounds, landscaped gardens and recreational areas. The park’s most recognizable landmark, the Five Ram Statue, is an emblem of Guangzhou City, depicting the five immortals who came to Guangzhou on the back of rams to deliver grain and prosperity to the starving people.

For a look at Guangzhou’s past and present, the park is home to the Guangzhou City Museum, housed within Xhenhai Tower. The five-story tower, built in 1380 during the Ming Dynasty, was originally used to protect the city from pirates before the British used the structure as a garrison after the first Opium War. Now the Ming-style building houses relics from the city’s 2,000-year history.

Visit the park early in the morning to see locals practicing tai chi or playing musical instruments. Throughout the day the lakes become crowded with fisherman looking to catch dinner and the paths become scattered with artists sketching or painting their surroundings.