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China Travel Guide » Places in China » Macau Special Administrative Region
Places in China: Macau Special Administrative Region
It is possible to visit somewhere which has a strong resemblance to Las Vegas without going to the United States. Macau is the Chinese equivalent to Vegas in many ways. It may even be a cleaner place than the USA city.
Macau is a special administrative region (SAR) on the southeast coast of China, only thirty-five miles from Hong Kong. If you are in Hong Kong, you can take a boat and arrive in Macau in less than an hour.
Macau is a tiny place when compared to China's provinces. The land area of the region is 27.3 square kilometres, and its population is less than one million. The people are largely Chinese who speak Cantonese rather than Mandarin. They also speak Portuguese and English (for the tourists).
The ambiance of Macau is a blend of Asian and European. That is because Portugal owned the colony for over 440 years. The city was leased to Portugal by China to thank the country for helping to rid the South China Sea of pirates in 1553. The Portuguese erected European-style buildings and brought in European menu ideas, leaving the very tidy city with a sort of hybrid blend of Asian and European cultures.
Macau has a long history with China regardless of the 440 or so years that it was leased to Portugal. In 221BC under the Qin Dynasty, Macau became a part of China. Since the area was rather far from the major Chinese cities, it was disregarded to a great degree, being used largely as a place to send exiles.
During World War II, both Macau and Hong Kong were neutral ports. After the war, both colonies asked to be annexed to China but were refused until Great Britain's lease for Hong Kong ran out in 1997. Now, both are parts of PRC.
Hong Kong is on one side of the Pearl River Delta with Macau being on the opposite side. The two cities are neighbours but quite different in their atmospheres. Hong Kong is much more business oriented while Macau is much more into tourism and the gambling scene for income. There are other industries in Macau, such as textiles and the manufacture of clothing, but gambling is the biggest draw for the city.
The world's largest casino, the Venetian Macau, is a focal point in this city with at least twenty-six casinos, many of which are in the luxury hotels. High quality food and entertainment facilities are also important elements in Macau's lure to tourists.
Christian churches and Chinese temples plus the ruins of old but impressive buildings are among the attractions of Macau. The streets of Macau are not as crowded as those in Hong Kong. The Leal Senado at night is an attraction you will not want to miss. There are exotic natural landscapes in Macau to experience as well.
Winters in Macau are short since it is a subtropical region. Summers tend to be quite warm and humid. From October through December, the weather is more pleasant, making it a favourite time to visit this jewel of the Orient.
Transportation to Macau is easy. A boat from Hong Kong, a helicopter ride or an airliner from many parts of the world will get you to this delightful city.
Major cities in Macau Special Administrative Region:
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