Introduction to Macao
 Location
 Area
 Chinese and Western
 Cultures and Customs
 World Heritage
 



Chinese and Western Cultures and Customs
  Before the 19 th century, Macao was one of the major ports of China as well as an important port in Asia for international trade. Along with the flourishing of trade, Macao attracted many people around the world; hence, a city where the people from Europe , Asia , Africa and America were mixed together came into being.
  As the earliest, most frequent and most important place in China for having access to modern western articles and culture, Macao was regarded as a bridgehead for China to contact western culture. Meanwhile, the foreigners living in Macao , through various media, introduced to other countries the Chinese culture, ideologies and customs they had known in Macao - a gateway for foreign countries to learn about China .
  A large number of China's pioneering undertakings were initiated in Macao, e.g. the first western style university (Colégio de Sao Paulo), the first western style hospital (St. Raphael's Hospital), the first western style printing house (Printing House Attached to Colégio de Sao Paulo), the first newspaper in foreign language (A Abelha da China).
   During the past 400 years, various communities were established in the Historic Centre of Macao with joint efforts of the Chinese and Portuguese, representing the architectural features of Chinese style and western style buildings and the blending of different religions, cultures, habits and customs of the Chinese and Portuguese. The affectionate, unsophisticated and comprehensive community culture has become the most valuable characteristic of Macao .


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