A duty-free port, Macau has long been famous for its jewelry stores, especially those offering gold jewelry along Avenida Horta e Costa and Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro. Many Chinese consider buying gold as an investment. Market prices per tael (1.2 oz.) of gold are set daily. When buying gold or jewelry, always request a certificate of guarantee.
After gold, Portuguese wines are another good bargain, as are Chinese antiques and leather garments. In recent years, a number of fashionable clothing boutiques have also opened in the center of town, similar to what you'd find in Hong Kong. More colorful are the clothing stalls near Largo do Senado square, many of which sell overruns and seconds from Macau's many garment factories. You can also pick up Chinese jackets here cheaper than at markets in Hong Kong. Another colorful local shopping experience is the Red Market, located on the corner of Avenida Almirante Lacerda and Avenida Horta e Costa. Built in 1936 in Art Deco style, it houses a lively food market open daily from 7:30am to 7:30pm. A street market extends from the Red Market to Rotunda de Carlos Maia, a district popularly dubbed the Three Lamps District and a fun place to browse for cheap clothing. To reach the Red Market, take bus no. 1, 1A, 3, 4, 5, 8, 16, 17, 23, 25, 26, 26A, 32, 33, or 34 to Mercado Vermelho.
On the islands, there's a weekly outdoor market held Sundays from 11am to 8pm in Taipa Village, with booths selling traditional crafts, souvenirs, clothing, toys, and food. In Colôane Village, check out Asian Artefacts, 9 Rua dos Negociantes (tel. 853/28881022), which sells restored antique furniture from North China, including trunks, chests, tables, chairs, and more, as well as handicrafts from Thailand, India, and other Asian countries. It's open from 10am to 7pm daily and can arrange shipping.
Macau, which didn't have one department store when I first visited in the 1980s, let alone boutiques or shopping malls, is on the verge of a shopping explosion, with most new developments tied to its gaming industry. The first large-scale addition to Macau's shopping and entertainment scene was Fisherman's Wharf (tel. 853/282993300; www.fishermanswharf.com), which opened in 2004 just a few minutes' walk from the ferry terminal. It offers upscale shopping, as well as dining and entertainment. In mid-2007, the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel will open its Grand Canal Shoppes in COTAI, with 350 luxury shops and restaurants, the first of many retail complexes planned for this new destination.
