Camp Street

Campsite street is the oldest street in Macao. Its north end is at the intersection of Guanqian and houqian, starting from caodui street, and its south end is between Tiantong street and hongchuangmen street after crossing Xinma Road, with a total length of 310 meters.

Camp Street

Campsite Street (Portuguese: Rua DOS mercadores; commonly known as campsite street and Macao street) is the oldest street in Macao. Its north end is at the intersection of Guanqian and qianhou, starting from caodui street, and its south end is between Tiantong street and hongchuangmen street after crossing Xinma Road, with a total length of 310 meters.

The origin of the name

The official name of this street is Dajie, later also known as Yingying street. Its name comes from the fact that it was once the place where the army camped. However, there are three reasons for the army's encampment. First, it was the place where the army encamped in the Ming Dynasty to restrict the activities of the Portuguese. The second is that during the Anglo French war, under the pretext of helping to protect Macao from French invasion, Britain forced Macao to stay here. Third, at the beginning of the 19th century, due to the rampant pirates, the Qing government stationed barracks here to protect the residents. In addition, the campsite street, also known as Macao street, was once a street where Chinese and foreign businessmen gathered for business activities in Macao, and its Portuguese name Rua DOS mercadores also came from it.

evolution

The earliest Camp Street was located on the West Bank of the Macao Peninsula. Many water inlets (deep waterways) nearby were used for foreign merchant ships to berth, load and unload goods and trade. At first, the Portuguese were allowed to live in Macao. In 1557, they began to build houses in Macao, forming a long strip of Macao street on the south coast of Macao Peninsula. With the development of trade, campsite street has not only become a prosperous trade market, but also an informal dividing line between Chinese and Portuguese. In the early days of Macao, only Camp Street was used as a commercial street, and then Guanqian Street and caodui Street formed a prosperous commercial block. After the merchants and formed a three street guild hall, for business people to contact feelings and business communication. At that time, the Qing government used the Sanjie Guildhall to issue an announcement, and the later Australian and Portuguese governments also used the Guildhall as the only organ to contact the Chinese.

With the passage of time, the geographical location of Camp Street has become inland due to alluvial and reclamation. In the past, campsite street was no longer an important commercial area, but now it still forms an important commercial shopping area in Macao together with Xinma road and 5th Street in October.

cultural significance

In the Pearl River Delta, there is a saying that "Guangzhou City, Hong Kong, Macao street". The old name of Macao shows the space and status of Macao. Among them, "Macao street" refers to this historic Camp Street. Because campsite street was once an informal dividing line between Chinese and Portuguese, it is also called "the dividing line between culture and race" in "a study of Macao street history". The cultural implication of Camp Street can be imagined.

Stories of ancient campsite Street

Campsite street is a commercial street in the central district. It is full of business and close to the market. People come and cars go, and it is prosperous and lively. This street is one of the oldest streets in Macao. It used to be called the main street. Although it is short and small, it is not wide and long. But a hundred years ago, Macao was just a city street with many businesses and prosperous business. Therefore, it is not inappropriate to call it the "main street" of Macao.

In the past, there was a "stone gate" near caodui Street on the "Macao city" street, which was a gate with two big characters of "Macao" on it. Entering this gate was the main street, commonly known as "Macao street"; later, the city wall of Macao was demolished, the area was expanded, and the main street was renamed Camp Street. The name of "Macao street" is still used today, but it does not refer to the main street. Instead, it is called Macao, which means that Macao is small and narrow.

Speaking of the name of Camp Street, there is also a story. In the past, the main street was near the Sanjie guild hall, and there were barracks, but the soldiers who camped were not Portuguese soldiers, but British soldiers. In 1808, under the pretext of helping the Portuguese in Macao to guard against theft, Britain sent troops to Australia and camped in the streets.

The main street used to be a mixed area of China and foreign countries, with mutual restraint and peaceful coexistence. More than 70 years ago, Wang Zhaoyong, a man of insight in Macao, wrote about the street style in his "Miscellaneous Poems in Macao": "on the left and right bars of the thoroughfare, there are different signs of Lu mastiff. He was restrained until he was firm and clear, so he still hears about it. Today, the heritage rules are vague, and the stone road is empty and dusty. Black slave, red ghost, flower, brocade skirt. Who will sing the old ballad, the wild woman will be fumigated with roses. " Now things have changed.

Nearby organizations and shops

1. Yuanlai bakery (from 1920 to 1984, it was a large teahouse, which was one of many large teahouses at that time. Later, it changed to traditional bakery. The original site was sold and demolished in 1994, and now it continues to operate opposite the original site. The poet Zheng Miaoshan is one of the family members.) Jinmalun bakery / tea room jingranzhan roast meat shop Shengli Tea Restaurant New Central Hotel.

2. Macao theater chamber of Commerce, industrial and commercial associations. It was established on July 30, 1992. The meeting site is in Camp Street of Macao Peninsula.

3. Sanjie Guildhall is the earliest Chinese commercial guild in Macao. Founded between Yongzheng and Qianlong (1723-1795) in the Qing Dynasty, it is composed of three earliest streets in Macao: Yingying street, Guanqian Street and caodui street, so it is named Sanjie guild hall.

4. Macao traditional Chinese Medicine Association is an academic association in the field of traditional Chinese medicine in Macao. It was founded in 1945 and was named "Chinese Medicine Research Association" at that time. Since 1989, it has adopted its current name and is located in Yingying street.

Address: Camp Street, Macao

Longitude: 113.539825

Latitude: 22.195037

Ticket information: Free

Opening hours: all day