A-Ma Temple
妈阁庙
Macau's oldest temple (1488), the origin of the name 'Macau', a sea-goddess temple built into the hillside and the endpoint of the historic centre walking route.
A-Ma Temple sits at the foot of A-Ma Hill at the southwestern tip of the Macau Peninsula. It was founded in the first year of the Hongzhi era of the Ming dynasty (1488) and is dedicated to Matsu, the goddess who protects seafarers. It is Macau's oldest surviving temple and part of the World Heritage historic centre. Legend says that when 16th-century Portuguese landed here and asked the name of the place, the locals answered “A-Ma Gok,” which gave rise to the name “Macau.” The temple climbs the hillside over four tiers: the entrance with stone lions and a memorial archway, then the Zhengjue Chanlin, Hongren Hall and Guanyin Pavilion. Stone steps and rock carvings link the halls. Inside is the Ming-era “Ocean Ship Rock,” a relief of an ancient sailing ship. In front of the temple lies A-Ma Square, a Portuguese-style stone plaza. Across the square, the Maritime Museum (closed Tuesdays, admission about MOP 10) tells the story of Macau's seafaring history, and the nearby A-Ma Pier has old Portuguese restaurants. A-Ma Temple is usually the endpoint of the historic centre walk. From Senado Square via Monte, St. Lawrence's Church, the Mandarin's House and Lilau Square takes about 40 minutes. From A-Ma Temple, take a bus or walk to Macau Tower (about 20 minutes). Admission is free, and a visit takes 30–45 minutes. The Port Authority Building (Moorish style) and the Portuguese houses on A-Ma Street are worth a detour nearby. Notes: Incense is heavy inside the temple, so mind fire hazards. It's crowded during the lunar festivals.
Opening hours
07:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Macao Maritime Museum
- Moorish Barracks
- Our Lady of Penha Chapel
- Mandarin's House
- Lilau Square
- Sai Van Lake
- St. Lawrence's Church
- St. Joseph's Seminary and Church