Cinematic Macau

The former Portuguese colony has been the set of many productions, from Hong Kong triad movies to Korean soaps to Hollywood blockbusters

Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade (far left), Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn (left), a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre (right) designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films in
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films include (above) Lisboa Hotel, the MGM Macau, Grand Lisboa hotel and cinema-themed Studio City. PHOTO: GRAND LISBOA
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade (far left), Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn (left), a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre (right) designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films in
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films include Lisboa Hotel, the MGM Macau (above), Grand Lisboa hotel and cinema-themed Studio City. PHOTO: JULIANA LOH
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade (far left), Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn (left), a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre (right) designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films in
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films include Lisboa Hotel, the MGM Macau, (above) Grand Lisboa hotel and cinema-themed Studio City. PHOTO: LISBOA HOTEL
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade (far left), Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn (left), a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre (right) designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films in
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films include Lisboa Hotel, the MGM Macau, Grand Lisboa hotel and cinema-themed Studio City (above). PHOTO: STUDIO CITY
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade (far left), Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn (left), a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre (right) designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films in
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre (above) designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films include Lisboa Hotel, the MGM Macau, Grand Lisboa hotel and cinema-themed Studio City. PHOTOS: GRAND LISBOA, JULIANA LOH, LISBOA HOTEL, STUDIO CITY
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade (far left), Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn (left), a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre (right) designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films in
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn (above), a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films include Lisboa Hotel, the MGM Macau, Grand Lisboa hotel and cinema-themed Studio City. PHOTOS: GRAND LISBOA, JULIANA LOH, LISBOA HOTEL, STUDIO CITY
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade (far left), Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn (left), a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre (right) designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films in
Popular filming sites include Rua da Felicidade (above), Macau's former red-light district; San Va Inn a walk-up guest house reminiscent of the 1950s; and the Macao Science Centre designed by I.M. Pei. Glitzy locations for films include Lisboa Hotel, the MGM Macau, Grand Lisboa hotel and cinema-themed Studio City. PHOTOS: GRAND LISBOA, JULIANA LOH, LISBOA HOTEL, STUDIO CITY
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Macau has been an appealing backdrop of different film genres through the decades - romantic comedies, action thrillers, mafia-themed plots and more.

The former Portuguese colony is often a stand-in for old Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, given the nostalgia evoked by its places and spaces, left in their original state from the 1950s.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 22, 2018, with the headline Cinematic Macau. Subscribe