The A-Ma Temple is a temple to the Chinese sea-goddess Mazu. It is one of the oldest in Macau -- built in 1488 -- and is thought to be the settlement's namesake.

It is said that when the Portuguese sailors landed at the coast just outside the temple and asked the name of the place, the natives replied Maa-gok or A-maa-gok ("The Pavilion of the Mother"). The Portuguese then named the peninsula "Macau".  The temple was well described in ancient Chinese texts, as well as represented in paintings, related to Macao. It is also one of the first scenes photographed in Macao. 

In 2005, the temple became one of the designated sites of the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Temple consists of six main parts: Gate Pavilion, the Memorial Arch, the Prayer Hall, the Hall of Benevolence (the oldest part of the temple), the Hall of Guanyin, Zhengjiao Chanlin - Buddhist Pavilion.