For over four hundred years, Macao has been a meeting point for China and Western trade and culture, captivating attention with its diverse cultural fusion and unique urban landscape. Following the invention and increasing popularity of photography in the mid-19th century, there emerged numerous historical photographs documenting Macao’s urban scenes.

Since the Macao Museum’s establishment, it has prioritized the collection of historical photographs of Macao. These captured moments oer valuable insights into Macao’s history and culture, showcasing the cityscapes of the 19th and 20th centuries of Macao. Since Macao’s return to the motherland in 1999, the city’s rapid development has led to signicant changes in its scenes. This exhibition, titled “Old Meets New: A Historical Photo Exhibition Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Macao’s Return to the Motherland,”features over 120 new and old photographs, along with related artefacts. Some of the new photographs were taken at the same locations as the old ones after studying the original scenes captured in the old photographs, providing a comparative perspective. The exhibition consists of five sections: “Historical Buildings,” “Everyday Life,” “Scenes of the Past,” “Celebrating the Return,” and “Today’s Macao.” These sections vividly display Macao’s urban landscape and cultural heritage, paying tribute to the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland.