Coloane

Background

Coloane is the southernmost part of the Macao Special Administrative Region and was originally an offshore island. From the Song dynasty it was a Chinese sea-salt works, and it came under Portuguese administration from 1864. Pirates were active here from the Ming dynasty onwards, and after the anti-pirate campaign of 1910 the area gradually became peaceful. Local lore says pirates once hid in Coloane's caves, waiting for chances to plunder passing ships. The causeway linking Taipa and Coloane opened in 1969, and after land reclamation in the early 2000s Coloane became joined to Taipa by land, with Cotai formed in between. Coloane Village lies on the south-west coast. Its square (马忌士广场) is paved with black, white and yellow wave-patterned cobbles; the Baroque-style Chapel of St. Francis Xavier (Capela de São Francisco Xavier), completed in 1928, is also in the village, together with temples such as Tam Kung Temple (1862), Sam Seng Temple (1865), Tin Hau Temple and Kun Iam Temple, and the original Lord Stow's Bakery, opened in 1989. Hac Sa Beach (Praia de Hác Sá), on the east side, is Macao's largest natural beach; "Hac Sa" is the Cantonese reading of 黑沙, "black sand". According to Wikipedia, the dark colour comes from minerals in the water, and the government once added yellow sand to combat erosion, so the sand now varies in shade. Cheoc Van Beach (Praia de Cheoc Van) lies on the south side. Alto de Coloane, at 170.6 metres, is Macao's highest point and has hiking trails. Coloane is not part of the Historic Centre of Macao World Heritage site.

Local customs

• Stroll through the village to the square (马忌士广场), the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, Tam Kung Temple, Sam Seng Temple, Tin Hau Temple and Kun Iam Temple
• walk and swim at Hac Sa Beach (mind the lifeguard notices) and have a barbecue or picnic in Hac Sa Park
• stroll along Cheoc Van Beach
• hike the Alto de Coloane trails for wide views
• visit the A-Ma statue and the Village of Our Lady (圣母村) in the Ká Hó area
• taste Portuguese-style egg tarts at the original Lord Stow's Bakery.

Travel tips

• The village is best explored on foot
• getting between the beaches and the village takes a bus ride or a fair walk. You can take a bus from the Macao Peninsula or Taipa to Coloane town and the Hac Sa Beach area, or take a taxi
• check official information for routes, fares and timetables. Tourism sources say a few small shops accept cash only, so carry a little cash and check payment options on site.
• Coloane can be visited all year round: autumn and winter are cool and good for hiking
• summer suits beach days but is hot and rainy, so use sun protection and drink plenty of water
• in typhoon season, check the weather signals before you go.