Macao,When the sun sets Macao
China Rouge at Galaxy Macau.[Provided to Shanghai Star] |
The nightlife in Macao is like a never-ending carnival with hundreds of flamboyant and neon-lit entertainment venues, especially in the central business district near the Lisboa Hotel.
|
Their glittering signs form a lit-up kaleidoscope in the night sky and some of the hotels have amusing names like the God of Fortune.
Macao lacks a skyline to rival Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor or the Bund in Shanghai, but it is unpretentious in its embrace of worldly pleasures and sybaritic designs.
Local residents say you can always find your own special corner in this bustling enclave, and I found mine at the China Rouge bar at the Galaxy Macau.
I was fascinated by its luxurious interior and sense of calm, and the way in which it seamlessly blends classical and modern elements.
The interior was put together by multi-award-winning Hong Kong designer Alan Chan to reflect Shanghai’s golden era in the 1930s, when the city was known as the “Paris of the East”.
Rather than reproducing 1930s artworks, Chan commissioned Chinese artists to create new work including abstract paintings, photography, and digital photographic puzzles. It felt more like a high-glass gallery than your typical pub.
My favorite spot was on the sofas in front of a huge painting of nymphs frolicking with wild abandon in the main lounge.
The painting shows dozens of women posing and dancing around the relics of a Grecian shrine. It instantly grabs your attention.
A glass of champagne here serves as the perfect conclusion to a night out on the town.