The other side of Macau: Fun for all the family in Coloane

Coloane might be just a hop, skip and a jump from the mega resorts, massive shopping malls, and glitzy casinos of Cotai, but it is an entirely different world, where high-rises are the exception rather than the rule.

Before it was linked to Taipa through the land reclamation that created Cotai, Coloane constituted the former Portuguese enclave's largest land mass. Even today, it is Macau's green lung, with beaches, rolling hills, and sylvan forests – the perfect spot to escape the maddening crowds.

The Hac Sa Reservoir Park is the jewel in Coloane's eco-tourism crown. Facilities include paddle boats and canoes. There is a plant maze, a grassy slope that children can slide down, picnic areas, and camping grounds. Several well-maintained hiking trails – with varying degrees of difficulty –  criss-cross the park and other parts of Coloane.

One of the most challenging trails leads hikers from the reservoir up Mount Dek Sep Tong to the Tam Sing Temple, a sprawling complex of buildings with glazed tile roofs, surrounding a large courtyard. While completed less than 20 years ago, the complex has the look and feel of a monastery from the imperial era. A giant statue of A-Mah, the Chinese goddess of seafarers and fishermen, is located further up the hill. Dramatically lit at night, it can be viewed from several spots around the island.

For those not wanting to hike up to the temple, it can also be reached by a free shuttle service, departing from Seac Pai Van Road and the Estrada Alto de Coloane every 30 minutes. You can’t miss it since an imposing stone gateway marks the spot. A tip is to take the shuttle up to the temple and then return to sea level along the well-maintained trails.