In Old Taipa Village and Laahn Gwai Lau
In order to enhance the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year (CNY – also known as Spring Festival) and optimise travel conditions, the government announced in a statement yesterday that it will set up two CNY pedestrianised zones, one in Old Taipa Village and the other in Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo – a street in the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Macau’s “Laahn Gwai Lau” neighbourhood – daily from noon to 7 p.m. between next Tuesday, the first day of the Year of the Horse, and Sunday, February 22, i.e., from the first to the sixth day of the Chinese New Year.
The statement said that the arrangement will be regularly implemented starting this year during the Chinese New Year, International Workers’ Day (aka May Day or Labour Day) and National Day (October 1) holidays to manage pedestrian flow and boost business turnover in the two areas.
Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo (關前後街) is a street in a neighbourhood colloquially known in Cantonese as “Laahn Gwai Lau” (爛鬼樓 – Dilapidated Ghost Building”).
According to the statement, the pedestrian zone in Old Taipa Village will cover the area from the junction of Rua Fernão Mendes Pinto (飛能便度街) and Rua do Supico (素啤古街) to the junction of Rua Correia da Silva (告利雅施利華街) and Rua Governador Tamagnini Barbosa (巴坡沙總督街). The pedestrian zone in the Laahn Gwai Lau area will encompass the entire length of Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo (關前後街) and a section of Rua da Tercena (果欄街), the statement said.
According to the statement, in order to accommodate residents in Old Taipa Village, the government will provide a resident shuttle service in the district. The service will offer free transport for people with mobility difficulties between three designated points and a temporary bus stop, the statement said.
The statement also said that the Transport Bureau (DSAT) will implement temporary traffic control measures around the pedestrianised zones, necessitating detours for some bus routes, adding that passengers are advised to use the temporary bus stops. The Public Security Police (PSP) and the Fire Services Bureau (CB) will deploy additional personnel to maintain order and ensure safety, the statement said.
During the CNY holiday, the statement said, both pedestrianisation zones will host a raft of activities including CNY-themed markets, performances, interactive booths, and photo spots, known as “da kat” – 打卡 – in Cantonese and “da ka” in Putonghua. Tourists and residents who spend 50 patacas or more at the zones’ designated businesses can exchange their receipts for a commemorative token, the statement said.
Pedestrians walk past shops on Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo in the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Macau’s “Laahn Gwai Lau” neighbourhood yesterday. – Photo: Armindo Neves
