From the outside, the temple complex looks almost like a series of small buildings climbing up the hillside, connected by stone pathways and archways. Each section has its own curved rooftop tiled in green or grey, with the tips curling upward at the corners — a style designed to let rainwater run off quickly and to create an elegant skyline against the hill. Carved stone reliefs of fish, waves and clouds decorate the walls.
The stone gateway at the entrance has large red wooden doors and is covered in red lanterns. Inside, coils of incense hanging from the ceiling fill the air with a warm, woody smell. The combination of carved stonework, lacquered wood, painted ceilings and mosaic floors makes the interior feel like stepping inside a work of art.
A-Ma Temple has been carefully repaired and maintained for over five centuries, which is why it still looks so remarkable today. Stone inscriptions on the walls date back hundreds of years and record the names of people who donated money for repairs — a kind of ancient crowdfunding to keep the building alive.
Because the temple sits beside the water, fishing boats used to cluster nearby. Sailors would visit to ask for safe journeys before setting out to sea. Many old model boats are kept inside as offerings — tiny wooden ships that show how important the sea was to Macau's history.