Under the Dome: The Maritime Poet of Guia Lighthouse

Standing tall at Macau's highest point, the snow-white Guia Lighthouse is Asia's first European-style maritime beacon. With a solitary presence atop Guia Hill, it has been writing luminous poetry for over a century. The 15-meter-tall tower, dressed in a creamy coat and crowned with a dark green copper helmet, continues to emit its rotating golden light, whispering the secrets of night navigation since 1865. Climbing the ochre trail, one unexpectedly stumbles into the remnants of a 17th-century defense line—rusted cannons and the pale yellow walls of the Chapel of Our Lady of Guia, forming a timeless triangular monument with the lighthouse. Dusk is a magical hour. Before the lighthouse beam awakens, the setting sun stretches its shadow across the South China Sea, while the glass observation deck reflects a surreal transformation of the skyline: colonial church spires converse with the golden glow of modern casinos amidst the clouds. At night, the entire peninsula becomes a velvet canvas studded with stars, and the light arc that pierces the darkness every ten seconds remains the gentle gaze that fishing boats first see upon their return. Tips: The lighthouse interior is only open during the "Macau Light Festival." Pair your visit with a hike along the Guia Hill running trail. Photography enthusiasts should bring a telephoto lens to capture the magical juxtaposition of old and new Macau from the observation deck below the lighthouse.