STORY: Macanese restaurant owner proud of Macao's development since return to China
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 10, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 12, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:54
LOCATION: MACAO, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Belos Tempos
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ANA MANHAO SOU, Restaurant owner
3. various of Ana Manhao Sou
4. various of Belos Tempos
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ANA MANHAO SOU, Restaurant owner
6. various of Belos Tempos
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): Local resident
8. various of Ana Manhao Sou cooking
9. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): ANA MANHAO SOU, Restaurant owner
10. various of Ana Manhao Sou running Macanese cooking workshops
11. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): ANA MANHAO SOU, Restaurant owner

STORYLINE:

Located in the centuries-old Rua da Felicidade in Macao, Belos Tempos is a place worthy of a visit for Macanese food lovers. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ANA MANHAO SOU, Restaurant owner
"The name of my restaurant is 'The Old Place,' which in Portuguese is 'Belos Tempos.' When customers think of it, I hope they'll remember, 'Oh, let's meet at the old place.'"

Ana Manhao Sou is Macanese -- an ethnic group which originated in Macao since the 16th century, comprising mostly people with some Portuguese ancestry.

In 2013, Sou came up with the idea of opening a Macanese cuisine restaurant.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ANA MANHAO SOU, Restaurant owner
"I think Macanese cuisine is quite unique. It's a fusion of Portuguese and Chinese cuisines, only found in Macao and unavailable elsewhere."

Macanese cuisine is a unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese culinary influences, with ingredients and seasonings collected from Europe, South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): Local resident
"This dish is a bit different from those outside. It's not that greasy and gives me a feeling of home."

In 2021, Macanese gastronomy was added to the National List of Representative Items of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of China.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): ANA MANHAO SOU, Restaurant owner
"I think it's very important that Macanese cuisine has been included in the intangible cultural heritage list. It shows recognition from the country level for Macanese cuisine in Macao."

Born and raised in Macao, Sou is very proud of Macao's development in the past 25 years.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): ANA MANHAO SOU, Restaurant owner
"We were born in Macao, so Macao is our home. When I go abroad, I say I'm Chinese.
In the 25 years since Macao's return, we can see that it has become much more prosperous than before."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Macao, China.
(XHTV)