Best of Macau: A-Ma Temple

See the location of A-Ma Temple on Macau Heritage Google Map

A-Ma Temple (媽閣廟) is one of the oldest and most famous Taoist temples in Macau. Built in 1488, the temple is dedicated to Matsu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen (called Tin Hau in Hong Kong and Tiān Hòu on the Chinese mainland). Opening hours: 7am till 6pm.

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In front of the entrance gate


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First Palace of the Holy Mountain, the prayer hall

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Picture by marhas

From the hall you walk into a courtyard with a large boulder with a relief of a lorcha, a traditional junk boat used on the South China Sea, carved more than 400 years ago. It shows the boat that brought A-Ma to Macau. Then you walk a staircase up Barra Hill. You climb the stairs past two stone lions which stop evil from entering the temple. Choosing the left path you come to Hongren Hall (The Hall of Benevolence).


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Hongren Hall


This red-painted granite and brick structure dates back to 1488. It uses the natural rock as part of its design and is the original hall for the worship of A-Ma. You can see the illuminated image of A-Ma at the back of the altar. To either side of her, carved into the granite, are her four attendants: the Book Keeper and the Keeper of the Gold Seal as well as her two guardians, Thousand Li Eyes and Favourable Wind Ears.

Crossing a moon gate (circular portal) and climbing another set of stairs you reach the Hall of Kun Iam (Guānyīn). From here you see the inner harbour of Macau and you understand: The sailors felt protected leaving and entering port as the powers powers contained within A-Ma temple watched over them. Kun Iam is both a Taoist deity and an emanation of Avalokitesvara, the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion.

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A view of China across Pearl River

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The Yingshan roof of Zhenghia Chanlin

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The spirit door of Zhengjiao Chanlin

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The Zhengjiao Chanlin is the most remarkable hall of the temple. It was restored in 1828. It is a Buddhist Hall. It is built with a high yingshan (flush-gable) roof. The façade has colourful reliefs of birds and fantastical lions decorating the architrave under the eaves. The circular moon gate in front is not for human passage but the spirit door of the temple. Inside the hall timber placards hang from the roof and in the centre of the altar, A-Ma looks out between two lit up towers of miniature images of the goddess. To her right sits the Dharma Protector Wéituó (Skanda) and to her left Dìzàng (Kṣitigarbha, the earth store bodhisattva).

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Read also:
The Temple Trail: A-Ma Temple