3 Best Sights in China

The cream-and-white interior of Macau’s oldest church takes on a heavenly golden glow when illuminated for service. Originally a convent founded by Spanish Dominican friars in 1587, St. Dominic’s is steeped in history. In 1822, China’s first Portuguese newspaper, The China Bee, was published here, and the church became a repository for sacred art in 1834 when convents were banned in Portugal.

Admission to all churches and temples is free, though donations are suggested.

Founded by Jesuits in 1560, the Church of St. Lawrence is one of Macau’s three oldest churches and has been carefully rebuilt over the centuries, with its current form dating to 1846. Set amid palm-shaded gardens overlooking the sea, it once drew families of Portuguese sailors, who gathered on its steps to pray for their loved ones’ safe return, hence its Chinese name, Feng Shun Tang (Hall of the Soothing Winds). Inside, elegant wood carvings, striking stained glass, a baroque altar, and crystal chandeliers create a breathtaking display of craftsmanship and devotion.

A gap in the skyscrapers accommodates the graceful Gothic form of this Anglican church, completed in 1849 and one of Hong Kong's oldest European-style buildings. Inside, the rows of cane wicker pews and low-slung ceiling fans will transport you to the early days of the British administration.