Sands Cares Ambassadors Visit Sun Yat-sen’s Chong Sai Pharmacy on Rua das Estalagens

Over 30 Sands Cares Ambassadors and family members recently toured the Former Chong Sai Pharmacy to commemorate the centenary of the passing of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who established the pharmacy in 1893 at No. 80 Rua das Estalagens.

Chong Sai Pharmacy left a glorious mark on Macao, as Sun was the first Chinese doctor to practice Western medicine in Macao. Sands China organised the visit to the landmark building to help participants gain a deeper understanding of Sun Yat-sen’s historical imprint on Macao and get a glimpse into the development of Rua das Estalagens from old times to the present.

The Sands Cares Ambassadors and their families toured the exhibition and learned about the important connection between Sun Yat-sen and Macao, Sun’s indomitable spirit and determination in pursuit of national independence and revitalisation throughout his lifetime, and the characteristics and architecture of the traditional shophouse.

They then browsed traditional shops on Rua das Estalagens and visited the distinctive shops created via Sands China’s Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens. The successful programme launched a year ago, and six of its seven businesses – restaurants, cafes and bakeries – have since started their operations on Rua das Estalagens. The outing deepened team members’ understanding of Rua das Estalagens while giving them a chance to support local SMEs, participate in reviving the neighbourhood’s economy and enjoy the shops’ unique culinary flavours.

As part of Sands China’s revitalisation efforts for Rua das Estalagens, the company released a new bilingual publication in March, “In Search of Its Roots – An Illustrated History of Rua das Estalagens.” Created through the community’s collaborative efforts, it highlights the fascinating past of the historic Macao street and the beauty of its legacy. By engaging in intimate conversations with associations, business entities and residents in the district, the book provides a valuable reference for the next generation to gain a deeper understanding of the history of Macao and Rua Das Estalagens.

The book is available at the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s Macao Public Library and online at https://assets.sandsresortsmacao.cn/ebook/SCL/revitalization-of-rua-das-estalagens/index.html.