Mandarin's House

The Mandarin's House

The Mandarin's House was completed in 1921 and once served as the residence of high-ranking government officials as well as homes for some Macanese families. In the 1980s, the Macao Government Tourist Office (now the Macao Government Tourism Office) acquired the property and refurbished it. In 1992, these five buildings were recognized as having architectural and artistic value as a group. The government carried out a complete restoration of the complex, converting three of the buildings into what is now the Mandarin's House. From east to west, they were turned into the “Macanese Home,” the “Island Home,” and the “Portuguese Regions Home,” while the other two serve as an “Exhibition Hall” and a “Guesthouse.” The Mandarin's House officially opened to the public in November 1999.

The most famous part of the Mandarin's House is the Macanese Home — the most distinctive museum here and one of the remaining colonial-style official residences and mansions in Macao. The Macanese primarily refer to the community that emerged from intermarriage between the Portuguese and local populations such as Malays, Filipinos from Southeast Asia, and Indians from South Asia. The Macanese have their own language and lifestyle, often practicing Western religions yet maintaining distinctly Eastern habits. Visitors can revisit the glorious past of the Portuguese government, British taipans, the Qing dynasty, and the high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants who frequented Macao through this museum. They can also experience the lifestyle of the Macanese in Macao during the early 20th century at the Taipa residential museum. Most of the exhibits come from long-established Macanese families. Especially noteworthy are the furniture, ornaments, and decorative items, which feature a unique blend of Chinese and Western styles, along with old photographs adorning the rooms — all of which bear witness to the living conditions of the Macanese in Macao. They reflect the fusion of Chinese and Portuguese cultures and serve as a portrait of Macao itself.

The Mandarin's House also includes the Island Home — the “Island Home” within “Mandarin's House” is a small museum in Macao that reflects the historical features of Taipa and Coloane.

Since November 1999, it has been popular with visitors from around the world. Both tourists and local residents can systematically learn about the island’s past and present through the displayed relics, photos, explanatory texts, and more. From archaeological finds from the Stone Age to today’s major infrastructure projects, the “Island Home” covers ten thematic areas — including the evolution of the terrain and names of the Coloane-Taipa area, archaeology on the islands, historical development, modern livelihoods, the history of transportation on the islands, temple culture, Portuguese-style architecture, specialty foods, the development of large-scale constructions, and leisure and entertainment venues — to reflect the history and current state of Coloane and Taipa.

Portuguese Regions Home — spread across two floors, this section mainly displays traditional costumes, photos, and handicrafts from various ethnic minorities in different regions of Portugal. Through their regionally distinctive attire, visitors can gain insight into the lifestyles, social customs, and daily habits of the people in those areas.

Guesthouse — consisting of two floors, this guesthouse is not open to the public but is mainly used to host banquets, cultural and art lectures, or special gourmet events. To enhance the unique charm of the Mandarin's House and demonstrate warm hospitality to visitors from around the world, a “Mandarin's House” teahouse has been set up next to the first of the five Portuguese-style buildings. It offers visitors a place to rest and sample some of Macao’s specialty snacks. Guests can also enjoy coffee at the teahouse while taking in the romantic and charming European ambiance of the seaside road. Additionally, a large open space in front of the guesthouse has been turned into a semi-circular open-air theater, which hosts a variety of suitable cultural, educational, and recreational activities for people of all ages during holidays. This brings cheerful laughter and a rich array of cultural and recreational events to the otherwise tranquil seaside road.

Various types of exhibitions are held irregularly, including thematic exhibitions featuring photography, Western painting, ceramics, and sculpture. The organizers also invite experienced artists from around the world, such as those from South Korea, Poland, and Shanghai, to share the art of different countries with local citizens and visitors.

The Mandarin's House holds colorful festival celebration events every year in collaboration with other institutions or government departments. These include Lunar New Year, International Museum Day (May 18), the Lusofonia Festival (June), the Lotus Flower Festival (June), the Mid-Autumn Festival (September), and the Coloane Week (November), among others.