Macau Border Gate

Macau Border Gate

The Border Gate is one of the land border crossings between the Macao Special Administrative Region of China and Guangdong Province in mainland China. Originally located in the middle section of Avenida da Fronteira, it was built in 1574 (the second year of the Wanli reign in the Ming Dynasty) by Xiangshan County of Guangdong as a traditional Chinese-style gatehouse with three stories. The lintel was inscribed with the words "Border Gate," and soldiers were stationed there to guard it. In 1673 (the twelfth year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty), the Border Gate was renovated, with an official office added and a garrison established at the gate.

In 1874 (the thirteenth year of the Tongzhi reign in the Qing Dynasty), as Portuguese encroachment on Macau intensified, the Border Gate was forcibly demolished. The stone lintel inscribed with the characters "Border Gate" is now embedded in the building of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. The Portuguese troops subsequently moved Macau’s northern boundary northward and constructed a new triumphal arch-style gate, which is the current location of the Border Gate.

In 1993, the Macau Portuguese government decided to reinstate border inspection measures for people entering and exiting from mainland China, leading to the construction of the Immigration Verification Building. The building has east and west wings: the east wing serves as the arrival hall, while the west wing is the departure hall. There is also a central building and a sightseeing corridor that leads directly to the archway.

Location: Mid-section of Avenida da Fronteira, at the border between Macau Peninsula and Qianshan, Zhuhai

Transportation: Take bus routes 1, 2, 10, 11, 31, 32, 36, 101, 601, 608, or K10 in Macau and get off at the “Gongbei Port” stop.