Macau Pen Club – a local literary association founded in 1987, is a well-established literary group with an extensive history. Its members consist of writers of novels and essays, poets, playwrights and literature critics. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the club. As part of the celebration, the Pen Club organized an interesting event called “Macau Literary Walk”, inviting well known figures in literature and culture from three places on both sides of the strait to participate. I was fortunate to take part in it.
On the day of the event, participants set off on the walk from A-Ma Temple at 9:30am. Guided by our very own Macau writer Vong Man Fei, we started the walk along the alleys of Rua da Praia do Mandoco, through Patio da Claridade, then walked up the stairs to Mandarin’s House where the first reading session was held. Several local writers read a selection of literary works: Tong Mui Siu read her own work “Walking in the wrinkles of the city”; Un Sio San, Mu Xinxin, Gu Yu and I read respectively “Snooping over the Ruins of St Paul’s” by Virginia Cheang Mio San, “You all know who I am” by Leonel Alves, “This time, I came here alone” by Rai Mutsu, “The ancient mansion” by José Ferreira.
After the session was concluded, we took a break, and departed again from Lilau Square, walking along Rua do Padre António, St. Lourenço's Church, and Rua da Patra, arriving at St. Joseph’s Seminary and Church. Before we started the visit inside the seminary, we hosted the second reading in the space between the seminary and the Treasure Hall. Yuan Siu San read her own poem, and Go Yu, Mu Xinxin and I read works from Han Mu, Chok Ma and Tam Kin Tzao respectively. After the session was concluded, the group visited the seminary and then kept on walking to St. Augustine’s Square, Ho Tung Library, Calcada do Gamboa, Rua da Alfandega, finally ending the walk on Happiness Street.
“Literary Walks” are often organized in cities like Hong Kong and Taiwan. In recent years, they have become more popular and diverse – the routes are designed and guided by people who have a deep knowledge of the areas, aiming to connect “literature” and “city” together, allowing participants to experience the relationship between literature and the city streets and buildings, and with society and history.
“Anthropology” is at the core of “literature”. On one hand, it describes the physical evolution of a city’s landscape and its historical development; on the other hand, it records the ups and downs of people’s lives. It allows literature to be “grounded”, to be tied into the everyday life of ordinary people.
In Macau, similar events have been organized in recent years; usually as guided walks through historical sites and buildings. The themed “Literary Walk” organized by the Pen Club was the first of its kind and a very meaningful attempt.
The works selected for this “Literary Walk” consisted of poems and essays by Chinese, Portuguese and other foreign authors, blended into the texture of the city of Macau and its history of humanity, ultimately blossoming an interesting outcome. I wish more of these kinds of literary walk events could be organized in different locations in the city, unearthing more diverse natural sceneries and human stories in our communities, allowing us to experience the historical and cultural charm of our city that is on display everywhere.
