TEMPLE OF A-MA

The A-Mon temple, dedicated to the goddess of the sea (also called Tin Hau in Cantonese), is the oldest temple in Macau. It probably existed already before the Portuguese arrived in 1554. Legend tells us that a junk, part of the Fujian province of China in good weather to cross the China Sea, suddenly found itself caught in a terrible storm. Everyone had already lost hope when a young and beautiful woman, having embarked on the last minute, rose and ordered the elements to calm down. By magic, the furious winds ceased and the sea bowed. Without other perils, the junk arrived healthy and saved in the port of Macau where the young woman set foot, moved the Colina da Barra to climb to heaven in a halo of light… where she made her first steps on the land of Macao, the A-Mon temple was built to her glory. The temple is actually composed of several pavilions of prayer and gardens clinging to the hill, some of the pavilions being dedicated to A-Mon, others to Kun Iam. Winding paths, passing through round portals, leads to the hill to the rocks of Chinese letters invoking the deities. The A-Ma festival takes place in April or May (according to the moon cycle).