マカオ・タワー

Macau Tower rises on the reclaimed land along the southern waterfront of the Macau Peninsula and is one of the most recognizable features of the city's modern skyline. The slender concrete spire reaches more than three hundred meters into the air and functions as an observation tower, a communications mast, a restaurant destination, and one of the most ambitious commercial adventure venues in Asia.

The main observation deck sits at a height of more than two hundred meters and offers a full circle panoramic view that takes in the whole of Macau, the Pearl River delta, the neighboring city of Zhuhai, and, on clear days, the distant outline of Hong Kong's outlying islands. Glass walls and a generous internal floor make the deck easy to move around, and the viewing angles over the old city, the bridges to Taipa and Coloane, and the high-rise towers of the casino strip give a clear sense of how Macau fits into the wider geography of the delta. Two revolving restaurants sit just above the deck for visitors who want to combine the view with a meal.

The tower is best known beyond the view for its adventure activities. The Skywalk, a guided circuit around the outer rim of the tower, and the bungee jump, one of the highest commercial jumps of its kind in the world, draw thrill-seekers from across the region, while a less exposed climbing route up the mast offers an intermediate option. For travelers who prefer to stay indoors, the glass floor sections of the deck give a vertiginous straight-down view without leaving the building.

For most visitors, Macau Tower is the single best place to grasp the scale and setting of the city. The contrast between the historic Portuguese-era buildings of the old peninsula below and the modern infrastructure of the delta is fully visible from this height, and a visit at sunset, when the lights of the casino district come on, is one of the most rewarding experiences on the Macau itinerary.