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Best of Macau--Temple Culture
 Macau, the Chinese city with the longest history
of being "open" to the outside world and foreigners since the Ming and Qing
dynasties (1368-1911), is a place where Chinese and Western cultures have met.
In Macau, an area of merely 25 square kilometers, there are 43 ancient temples and 20 churches which were built during the middle of
the Ming Dynasty. Generations of the residents have created the
marvelous temples-the treasure and pride of Macau people. Oriental and Western
civilizations exist harmoniously and create a unique character of the culture in
the area.
Ancient Temples
Lin Fung Temple, A-Ma Temple and Kun Lam Temple or Kun Lam Tong, also known
as Pou Chai Sim Yun, are the main three ancient temples which hold important
positions in the history of foreign exchanges.
Special significance is attached to Lin Fung Temple since it is an official
temple. It is the largest and most luxurious in its construction, with both
artistic and historical values. It was built by Qihe, an eminent monk, in the
reign of Wanli (1573-1620) of Ming Dynasty (1368--1644). The temple was
originally only for the worshipping of the Heavenly Goddess and an ancient
horizontal inscribed board from that era remains in the temple and is considered
a precious relic of at least 400 years.
Situated at the base of Penha Hill, A-Ma Temple, with a
history of over 500 years, is the oldest temple. The whole temple includes main
hall, stone hall, great mercy hall and Kun 
Lam hall (Goddess of Mercy, Avalokitesvara). Along the
cliff leading form great mercy hall to Kun Lam hall, there are many poems and
verses inscribed on stone in all scripts.
Kun Lam Temple, which dates back to the 1600's, is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy. Behind the
temple are terraced gardens in which stands the stone table where the first
Sino-American Treaty was signed.
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Macau, the Chinese city with the longest history
of being "open" to the outside world and foreigners since the Ming and Qing
dynasties (1368-1911), is a place where Chinese and Western cultures have met.
In Macau, an area of merely 25 square kilometers, there are 43 ancient temples and 20 churches which were built during the middle of
the Ming Dynasty. Generations of the residents have created the
marvelous temples-the treasure and pride of Macau people. Oriental and Western
civilizations exist harmoniously and create a unique character of the culture in
the area.
