Maritime Museum, also known as Museu Marítimo de Macau in Portuguese, is located #1 Largo do Pagode da Barra, Macau, just opposite to A-Ma Temple. Being completed at the year of 1987, Maritime Museum is believed to be the very place where the Portuguese first landed. The shape of this museum is just like a sailing ship. The museum consists of the main building, the Fishermen World Hall, the Maritime Trade Hall, the Navigation Technology and Transport Hall, the Aquarium.
Macau Maritime Museum focuses on introducing the primary maritime activities in this area, and the Macau’s history connected to the sea. That mainly includes fishing methods and traditional fishing boats, science and fishing technology and transport means in southern China, Portuguese and Chinese maritime history, etc. The history that presents here mainly introduces how Macau developed into a metropolis from a fishing port.
What to See
The exhibition building in Maritime Museum is divided into four areas: Maritime Customs Exhibition Hall, Maritime History Exhibition Hall and Maritime Technology Exhibition Hall.
The underground exhibition hall mainly introduces the local folk customs of fishermen in Macau and South China Region; you can see all kinds of different boats, fishing gears, fishing clothing, etc. “A-Ma Temple Story” campaign stage is very attractive, which tells the lovely story that how A-Ma protected fishing men in the sea. It is presented in Portuguese, Mandarin, Cantonese and English narration. There is also a model boat made with whale bone, and it is regarded as the sacred by the locals.
There is a giant tiled wall painting in the first floor, depicting a variety of compass azimuth vanes. The Maritime Exhibition Hall shows the history of China and Portugal related to maritime history. You can see the ship models which were used by Portuguese navigator during the period of geographical discovery. There is also a three-dimensional model of Macau in 17th-century, which clearly shows the orientation of all forts. Next there is the archaeological showcase resulting wreck remnants, a glimpse into the mysteries of underwater archeology.
On the second floor, you can see the exhibition about marine technology, marine traffic and something like that. Here are eight quadrant, binoculars, compass and other navigational instruments. Here also shows the night view of Macau’s fairway by simulating. In the sky model of Northern Hemisphere, you can experience to see the stars during night navigation, and get to know importance of stargazing for sailing.
The museum also has an aquarium with four aquariums, displaying different water environment in fresh water rivers, sea harbors, coral reefs and deep-sea wrecks. If you are interested in ship models and aquariums, you should miss this place.
Travel Guide
【Chinese name】: 海事博物馆
【Recommended time to visit】: half an hour
【How to get there】: You may take Bus 1, 1A, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 10A, 11, 18, 21, 21A, 28B, 34, etc. to get there. Or taking a taxi would be the most convenient way.