Sir Robert Ho Tung Library

If you are looking for the most peaceful spot in all of Macao, you may have just found it. Welcome to the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, where colonial elegance, lush gardens, and the quiet turning of pages create an atmosphere so serene you might forget you are in one of the most densely populated cities on earth. In 1918, this beautiful yellow colonial building was purchased by Sir Robert Ho Tung, one of the wealthiest businessmen in Hong Kong's history. Ho Tung was a fascinating figure, a Eurasian of mixed Chinese and Dutch heritage who became the richest man in Hong Kong. He used this Macao house as his summer retreat, a place to escape the intensity of business life. When Sir Robert died in 1955, he left the property to the Macao Government with a specific wish. He wanted it to become a public library, a gift of knowledge to the people of Macao. The government honoured that wish, and today this tranquil compound houses one of the city's best public libraries. Walk through the garden first. Mature trees provide deep shade, and flowering plants add splashes of colour against the yellow walls. On weekday mornings you might...