Macau travel guide — Macau tourism and travel information

Macau travel guide

about Macau

The Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, shortened to Macau or Macao, is a small territory on the southern coast of China. It is 70 km southwest of Hong Kong and 145 km from Guangzhou. It was the oldest European colony in China, dating back to the 16th century. The Portuguese government transferred sovereignty over Macau to the People's Republic of China in 1999 and is now run as a Special Administrative Region of the PRC. Residents of Macau mostly speak Cantonese natively.

Broadly, Macanese refers to all permanent inhabitants of Macau. But narrowly, it refers to an ethnic group in Macau originating from Portuguese descent, usually mixed with Chinese blood.

Besides historical colonial relics, the biggest attractions in Macau are the casinos. Though many forms of gambling are legal there, the most popular game is Pai Gow, a game played with Chinese dominoes. Gamblers from Hong Kong often take a one-day excursion to the city. Ferry service by hydrofoil between Hong Kong and Macau is available 24 hours a day, every day.

Macau geography

Macau consists of a peninsula, and the islands of Taipa and Coloane.

The peninsula is formed by the Zhujiang (Pearl River) estuary on the east and the Xijiang (West River) on the west. It borders the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone in mainland China.

Macau has a generally flat terrain resulting from extensive land reclamation, but numerous steep hills mark the original natural land mass. The Macau peninsula was originally an island, but gradually a connecting sandbar turned into a narrow isthmus. Land reclamation in the 17th century made Macau into a peninsula.

With a dense urban environment, Macau has no arable land, pastures, forest, or woodland. Because of this deficiency, Macau's people traditionally have looked to the sea for their livelihood.

Macau history

Macau was officially founded as a colony of Portugal in 1557 and recognized by the Chinese in 1670. Macau prospered as a port and was a subject of repeated attempts by the Dutch to conquer it in the 17th century.

After the House of Braganza regained control of Portugal from the Spanish Habsburgs in 1640, Macau was granted the official title of Cidade do Nome de Deus, de Macau, Não há outra mais Leal (City of the Name of God, Macau, There is None More Loyal).

With Hong Kong established as a British Crown Colony, Macau declined as regional trading center as larger ships were drawn to the deep water port of Victoria Harbour.

After the leftist military coup of 1974, the now democratic Portuguese government was determined to free up all its overseas possessions. In 1976, Lisbon redefined Macau as a Special Territory and granted it a large measure of administrative and economic independence. Following the example of the British, an agreement was made with the People's Republic of China to make Macau a Special Administrative Region in 1999.

Near cities to Macau

• Hong Kong travel guide 59 km
• Guangzhou travel guide 100 km
• Changsha travel guide 340 km
• Nanjing travel guide 460 km
• Xiamen travel guide 530 km
• Taoyuan travel guide 560 km
• Makung travel guide 630 km
• Kaohsiung travel guide 690 km
• Fuzhou travel guide 720 km
• Changhua travel guide 740 km

Near webcams to Macau

• Hongkong webcam 60 km
• Hongkong webcam 60 km
• Hongkong webcam 60 km
• Victoria Harbour webcam 60 km
• Hong Kong webcam 60 km
• Hong Kong - Victoria Harbour webcam 60 km
• Hongkong webcam 60 km
• Hongkong - Victoria park webcam 62 km
• Macao - Largo do Senado webcam 1 100 km
• Manila webcam 1 200 km

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Macau travel services

cheap flights to Macau

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Macau travel insurance

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Macau real estate

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City Travel Guide comes with Macau real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Macau property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in China, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Macau.

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Macau travel books

Macau travel guide books

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Macau maps and atlases

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