Tourism | HKZMB, Border Gate Square and UM proposed as new scenic spots

Rua da Felicidade is among the nominated places

The Chinese Cultural Exchange Association (CCEA) this week launched a voting website to pick the city’s eight new scenic spots, having even nominated one of the city’s most crowded places, the Border Gate Square, to be one of the eight spots.

The nominated locations were proposed by the Macao Government Tourism Office, the Cultural Affairs Bureau, and many of the city’s associations. The online voting is available to internauts around the world.

In total, 20 places have been nominated. These places include Lotus Square, Senado Square, Mount Fortress, Penha Hill, Macau Science Center, St. Augustine’s Square, Travessa da Paixão, St. Lazarus Church Creative Industry District, Mandarin’s House, Rua de Felicidade, Camões Garden, Kun Iam Ecumenical Center, Cotai Strip, Long Chao Kok, Rua do Cunha, Coloane Fishing Village, Two Lakes and One Tower.

In addition to the abovementioned 17 places, the campus of University of Macau, and two border crossings, including the Border Gate Square and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, have also been nominated.

“In order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Macau SAR, we’re calling for a vote for Macao New Eight Scenic Spots that represents Macau’s new landscape and achievements,” the association said.

The voting period will be from Jan. 15 to Feb. 28, 2019. People from all over the world can choose from the 20 candidates to vote for their top eight preferred scenic spots in Macau.

Additionally, those who vote are eligible to join the lucky draw to win various prizes.

According to organizers, the Macao New Scenic Spots is said to “give full play to Macau’s role as a bridge between the cross-strait relations, boost stable development of the cross- strait relations, enhance interaction between the four regions across the straits, unite the Chinese people across the world, increase understanding and communication in such sectors as society, culture, economy, education, technology.”

Lei Pui Lam, president of the CCEA, explained that tourists may not know how to choose among Macau’s attractions because several years of changes have shaped the city and, as result, there are many new attractions.

Lei hopes that, through the vote, people can review and think about the changes in Macau that have taken place over the past 20 years.

The vote event was prepared in August last year with the support of several governmental departments and organizations.

The attractions were nominated and named on the basis of their uniqueness, balance and continuity.

Following the creation of the new eight attractions, the Post and Telecommunication Bureau will issue relevantly themed stamps. The association will also work with local recreational groups to create related products. The association will also organize a variety of events to promote the new eight locations.