“Macao Light Festival 2016 – Treasure of Light” is unveiled
Organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and co-organized by Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau and Sports Bureau, the “Macao Light Festival 2016 – Treasure of Light” was inaugurated at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre tonight (4th December). The Festival presents video mapping projections, light installations, interactive games as well as a music and light show at eight scenic spots in Macao. Citizens and visitors are invited to embark upon a dazzling adventure in quest of the “Treasure of light”. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam, Member of the Executive Council of Macao Special Administrative Region, Andrew Chan Chak Mo, Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ip Peng Kin, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, President of Management Committee of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, José Tavares, President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng and President of Sports Bureau, Pun Weng Kun, officiated the kick-off ceremony to light up the eight scenic spots of the Macao Light Festival. Following that, a video mapping show titled “Sailing” was staged upon a water screen. Director Senna Fernandes delivered a speech stating that the Macao Light Festival was inaugurated on the same day as the “Macao International Marathon” and the “Parade through Macao, Latin City”, showing the city’s glamour with its colorful calendar of events. MGTO continuously deepens its partnership with the cultural and sports authorities to develop a diversity of tourism products and mega events, in hope that a greater synergy can be unleashed through concerted efforts to promote sports tourism as well as cultural and event tourism development. She looks forward to seeing more visitors coming from around the world once again to enjoy the Macao Light Festival, and experience the festive vibes in town during the 17th Anniversary of the Establishment of Macao Special Administrative Region and Christmas holidays. The “Macao Light Festival 2016 – Treasure of Light” is staged from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily from 4th to 31st December. This year, the Festival has introduced innovative projection techniques, new interactive elements as well as a music and light show, in hope that more citizens and visitors will enjoy the Festival promising a more compelling effect as a mega event. The route covers a total of eight locations including numerous World Heritage attractions and various spots around Nam Van Lake such as the landmark for culture, creativity and leisure known as Anim’Arte Nam Van. MGTO hopes to guide visitors to these areas where they can discover different hidden gems and a local hub of cultural and creative art, and enjoy the leisurely ambience in town. A new mobile application named “Treasure of Light” is launched this year, featuring maps of the covered routes, program, theme game, the latest information and selfie-taking feature. The content of the App is available in Chinese and English. The public can download the App for free from App Store or Google Play. Revolving around a quest for the “Treasure of Light”, the Festival invites citizens and visitors to embark on an adventure as “explorers” to look for seven lost Energy Gems of Mazu, which symbolize the meaning of 'Hope', 'Perseverance', 'Health', 'Happiness', 'Harvest', 'Bravery' and 'Faithfulness'. By collecting the seven gems, they can awaken treasure from the sea and enjoy a virtual reality tour beyond their imagination. It is fun for participants, young and old, to enjoy the activities involved. Four video mapping shows are staged at different locations including Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, Mandarin's House, Lilau Square and Barra Square. The shows take the audience on a time journey back to the old days of Macao in retrospection of its moving stories, whereas most of the seven light installations shine with new interactive elements incorporated to raise the level of involvement among their audience. The five interactive games all display an enhanced level of interactivity. At Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, “The Tree of Wishes” enables participants to create their own fireworks through the LED Matrix installed for the video mapping show, whereas the “Romance Detector” at St. Lawrence's Church combines video mapping effects to bestow blessings of love. For the “Lantern of Wishes” in Mandarin’s House, participants can ride a glowing seesaw to set off projections of blessing lanterns together. For the “Fountain of Light” at Lilau Square, participants can step into a fountain of light and collect gems flowing down from the fountain. In addition, the public can play the interactive game “Lost Gem” on the mobile app “Treasure of Light” to collect the seven lost gems. They can then activate the collected gems on the game device “Eyes of Treasure” set up at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre and Barra Square. After activating the seven gems, participants will be able to find the mysterious treasure and embark on a virtual reality tour. In addition, exquisite souvenirs can be redeemed at the two aforementioned locations. The newest music and light show named “Melody of Light” is staged at Anim’Arte Nam Van, where citizens and visitors can find various cultural and creative stores, a craft market and more. In the show, local artists and musicians orchestrate an array of spectacular performances into a symphony of painting art, music and light. The show demonstrates local artistic power and leads visitors into a local world of cultural and creative art. In the future, MGTO will continue to widen the diversity of tourism products and events to help transform Macao into a City of Events, and seek to enrich visitors’ leisure experiences in line with Macao’s goal to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The Office will also regularly evaluate and access the impact of mega events, while listening to suggestions from visitors and different circles of the society. With the above efforts, the Office strives to optimize the events with new elements and diversity, hoping to earn ongoing recognition from citizens and visitors.
