Taipa’s Shali Tou Gongguan

Shali Tou Gongguan in Macao

Night watchmen were ancient Chinese timekeepers who also alerted residents to fire and theft risks. However, with urban modernization, this profession gradually disappeared. The “Shali Tou Gongguan” is Macao’s last surviving watchtower building and a testament to the city’s former neighborhood watch patrols. To revitalize the site, the Cultural Affairs Bureau carried out a series of restoration efforts, including architectural surveys, structural repairs, and façade restoration. Adhering to the principle of “restoring the old as it was,” they reinstated the original layout of the watchtower and revived unique features such as the indoor retaining wall boulders and wall murals. Scholars were also commissioned to conduct historical research on Macao’s gongguan (watchtower) system and night watch practices, which informed the exhibition themes and spatial planning of the “Shali Tou Gongguan.”

The restored “Shali Tou Gongguan” exhibition space is divided into two main thematic galleries: “Macao’s Watchtowers” and “The Image of Night Watchmen.” Through the restored watchtower structure, historical photographs, physical artifacts, multimedia displays, and artistic illustrations, it narrates the vibrant occupational life and evolution of the night watch profession. The reopening of the “Shali Tou Gongguan” not only enriches the area’s tourism and cultural offerings but also provides additional public recreational space for local residents.

Location: No. 52, Rua dos Mártires, Santo António Parish, Macao

Getting there: Take bus No. 1, 3, 3X, 6, 16, 26, 33, or N1B in Macao