Shopping in Macau
Macau, as a free port favored with a
low-tax policy and a considerably stable currency, is a popular
shopping region with tourists and Hong Kong residents, who come here
to snap up cheap wine and tobacco.
The main shopping areas are around Yin
Huang-zi Road, Avenida do Infante D'Henrique and Avenida Almeida
Ribeiro. The central Square on Yin Huang-zi Road boasts some high
class stores including Georgio Armani, Escada and Yves
Saint-Laurent. The Japanese owned, New Yaohan Department Store
opposite the port, is the best of its kind in Macau. Ying Di Street
and Da Tang Qian Di, are good for exported clothes at reasonable
prices and there is also a good clothes market (the St. Dominic
market), just off Avenida Almeida Ribeiro in the southeast of the
city.
The Red Market, located on the corner
of Avenida Almirante Lacerda and Avenida Horta e Costa, bustles with
business as vendors sell food of every conceivable kind. If you
continue along Avenida Horta e Costa you will find several up-market
shops specializing in, clothing and shoes, electronic items and
cameras. But the best bargains are found in the streets surrounding
the avenue which are full of tiny shops selling many kinds of goods
at bargain prices.
Most of the antique and souvenir shops
are in the Dui Jie area and along the Rua dos Estalagens. Gold
jewelry is popular here and can be bought on the Rua dos Mercadores.
With gold, silver, pearls and precious stones all being duty-free,
you can get exceptional bargains if you shop around. There are many
reputable jewelry stores on Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, and on Avenida
Horta e Costa. However you should still ask for a warranty card for
jewelry and gold items and be sure to keep your receipts.
Pawn shops abound here, selling
everything from shirts to fantastic gems and jewels. Most goods are
pawned to pay off debts in the casinos! Beware, as the pawnshops
here (while fascinating to browse) tend to grossly overcharge
customers who want to buy.
Finally, alcohol and tobacco are good
buys, especially in comparison with Hong Kong prices. There are
numerous tobacco shops around town selling all kinds of imported
cigarettes and cigars. The selection of wine (mainly Portuguese) and
liquor is also good. Again, the stretch of shops on Avenida Almeida
Ribeiro is a good place to start looking.
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