Pawnshop Exhibition Hall

Pawnshop Exhibition Hall

The Pawnshop Exhibition Hall is located at the junction of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro 396 and Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva 59 in Macau. It was originally the Casa De Penhores Tak Seng On, a pawnshop business. The Pawnshop Exhibition Hall is a museum jointly developed by the government and private sector, and is part of the Cultural Centre. The property is privately owned, while its management is overseen by the Macao Government Tourism and Culture Bureau.

The “Tak Seng On” was a pawnshop established in the sixth year of the Republic of China (1917), originally owned by Macau tycoon Ko Kueng Ning. It is one of the most structurally intact pawnshop buildings still existing in Macau. To preserve Macau’s historical and cultural heritage, the Macao SAR Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau restored and renovated the “Tak Seng On” and established the Pawnshop Exhibition Hall. The exhibition hall was inaugurated on March 21, 2003, and is the first industry-specific museum in Macau to be developed through a government-private partnership.

The “Tak Seng On” pawnshop consisted of two parts: the main office and the goods tower. Its architectural design and interior layout reflect the basic style and characteristics of early Republican-era Chinese pawnshops. By visiting the displayed pawnshop tools, receipts, and records in the exhibition hall, visitors can learn about the operational models and processes of the pawnshop trade in the past. In September 2004, the “Tak Seng On” Pawnshop Exhibition Hall was awarded an Honourable Mention in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

Espaço Patrimonial uma Casa de Penhores Tradicional

Must-visit reason: The most structurally complete existing pawnshop building in Macau

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Macau[Macao]

Province/state where the attraction is located: St. Anthony Parish [St. Anthony Parish]