(Macau = Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Heon-jeong = There is a city that shines more brilliantly at night.
Although it resembles Europe, it is actually Macau, a special administrative region in China.
From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to Big Ben in London and the gondolas in Venice, you will be momentarily captivated by the scenery that seems to have transported the entire Europe.
The Parisian Macao Hotel, at the center of exotic scenery, has already celebrated its 10th anniversary.
◇ A city that shines at night
Summer in Macau is hot. Outdoor activities during the summer in Macau are challenging due to the sweltering heat and soaking humidity.
Most of the major buildings on the 'Cotai Strip', the central axis of modern tourism with large hotels, casinos, and shopping malls, are connected indoors, making it convenient to move around to avoid the midday heat.
The Venetian Macao's indoor shopping mall, which recreates Venice's gondolas and canals, is also crowded with people seeking refuge from the heat.
However, the true value of Macau tourism is revealed at night.
When the sun sets and colorful lights are added to each major landmark, the central area of Cotai is instantly reborn as a city of lights.
The night view of Macau from the Eiffel Tower observatory boasts an overwhelming splendor that will leave you awe-struck.
◇ The Parisian Macao’s 10th anniversary
It was quite plausible. It wasn't awkward at all.
The Eiffel Tower located in front of the Parisian Macau Hotel looked like a replica of the actual Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Although it was reduced to half its size, its grandeur remained the same.
The Parisian Macao Hotel, located in the center of the Cotai Strip, celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The entire hotel was filled with installations to celebrate this. Various events were also held in collaboration with ‘The Little Prince’.
A spectacular drone show was held every weekend night, and the ‘Chef Dinner Table’ attended by famous chefs also whetted the appetite of gourmets.
TeamLab Super Nature, an indoor media art exhibition, also provided spectacular attractions and heightened the celebratory atmosphere for its 10th anniversary.
◇ Drone show that colorfully colors the night sky
A low ‘hum’ sound from somewhere shook the night air. In the darkness, a noise of unknown origin aroused a strange sense of tension.
However, soon, more than 1,000 drones lit up in unison through the darkness and began to embroider fantastic shapes in the night sky. The audience continued to gasp in amazement at the fantastic sight unfolding before their eyes.
A spectacular drone show was held against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower at The Parisian Macao.
This performance delicately recreated various shapes, including the logo commemorating the 10th anniversary of the hotel's opening, the image of wine being poured into a wine glass, the cute Baobao character, and a hot air balloon.
Visitors flocking to 'Le Jardin', a garden with a direct view of the Eiffel Tower, and near the Londoner Hotel repeatedly pressed their camera shutters to capture the spectacular sight.
It was so captivating that I couldn't take my eyes off it for about 10 minutes.
◇ A trip down memory lane in a fairy tale… Collaboration with The Little Prince
“I always want to go to a place that makes me pure.”
These are the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of ‘The Little Prince’. Doesn't everyone have times when they want to escape from the complexities of daily life and return to the unspoiled emotions of childhood?
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, The Parisian Macao has placed spaces themed around the theme of 'The Little Prince', as if taking a trip down memory lane in a fairy tale.
In addition to the Little Prince photo zone surrounded by red roses, a stamp tour event was also held in the photo zone where you could meet the Little Prince in various appearances.
They also held an event where they gave out a tote bag if they got all the stamps, but the limited edition bags were so popular that they were often sold out quickly.
Passports for stamping were available to guests staying in the Famille Room, visitors to the Cube Kingdom, or children using the kids menu at the brasserie.
In addition, the lobby cafe attracted attention by introducing an afternoon tea set and pastries decorated with the Little Prince theme, including macaroons and chocolate.
◇ Macau’s gourmet food
This was not the only event commemorating the 10th anniversary of The Parisian Macao.
'Celebrity Chef Table', a special dining event featuring world-class chefs, was held for six weeks, and on August 14th, the food of Greg Tao, the executive chef of 'Lecla 19', a Michelin 1-star restaurant in Hangzhou, China, was introduced.
For the first course, 'foie gras mousse' made with pear braised in red wine and gently ground goose liver was served. It had an impressive texture that was thicker and softer than whipped cream, and had an excellent flavor when served with bread before a meal.
Next, 'Bonito Tartare' was served, which was finely chopped raw bonito meat topped with vegetables, yuzu dressing, and caviar. The refreshing taste and texture in the mouth really whetted my appetite.
The 'Lobster Egg Tart', known as Chef Greg Tao's signature menu item, boasted a different appearance and attractive visuals than ordinary egg tarts.
In addition, a variety of menus were offered, such as grilled golden snapper (kinmedai) with a ‘crispy on the outside and moist on the inside’ texture, and wagyu beef with a charcoal flavor, and the pairing with champagne was also perfect.
‘La Chine’, a Cantonese fine dining restaurant located inside the Eiffel Tower in Parisian Macao, is also a must-see attraction.
Led by Executive Chef Ben Louis, this place serves traditional Chinese food reinterpreted with a modern sensibility, and the swan-shaped puff pastry dim sum served at the beginning of the course was so exquisite and beautiful that it was almost a shame to eat it.
◇ INFORMATION
Macau, along with Hong Kong, is designated as a special administrative region of China.
Formerly under Portuguese colonial rule, it was returned to China in 1999, making it an attractive city with a unique fusion of Eastern and Western cultures.
The area is about 32㎢, which is smaller than the size of Songpa-gu, Seoul (33.9㎢).
The population is 720,000 as of 2026. Chinese people account for nearly 90%.
Chinese and Portuguese are designated as official languages. Cantonese is mainly used in Chinese.
- How to get there
Currently, Korean Air, Jeju Air, and Air Macao operate direct flights from Incheon. A common method is to go to Hong Kong and then enter Macau via the Kangjuao Bridge. It takes about 4 hours, and you can get from Macau International Airport to Cotai Strip in just about 10 minutes. You can also use the free shuttle bus operated by each hotel.
- Entry, visa
If you hold a Korean passport, you do not need a visa to enter the country. A visa-free stay of up to 90 days is possible for tourist purposes. However, the remaining validity period of the passport must be at least 3 months (90 days) as of the date of entry into Macao.
There is no need to fill out a separate entry form, but an entry certificate containing your information will be issued during immigration screening. You will need it when checking into the hotel, so it is best to keep it until the end of your trip.
Please note that possessing and bringing electronic cigarettes into Macau is strictly prohibited.
- Climate, clothing
It has a humid multitropical climate, with four seasons, but summers are long, hot and humid. Winters are short and relatively mild.
The fall season, from October to December, is good for traveling as there is little rain and the weather is pleasant.
It can be very cold indoors in the summer with the air conditioner running, so it is a good idea to prepare outerwear.
- Exchange rate, time difference, voltage
Macau's official currency is Pataca (MOP). As of September, 1 pataca is around 160 won. The Hong Kong dollar (HKD) is also widely used.
Most mobile payments are possible, and of course credit cards are accepted, so there is no reason to exchange a lot of cash.
The time difference with Korea is 1 hour, so Macau is 1 hour behind Korea. Since daylight saving time is not implemented, the one-hour time difference is maintained throughout the year.
The voltage is 220V (50Hz), the same as in Korea, but a multi-adapter is required because a British 3-pin plug is used.
Reporting cooperation - The Parisian Macao
※ This article can also be found in the October 2026 issue of the monthly ‘Yonhap Imagine’ published by Yonhap News.
