Macau is a small region on the Chinese peninsula, southwest of Hong Kong. There are scheduled boat rentals to and from Macau and Hong Kong throughout the day. It is an easy day trip from one place to another. If you are planning a trip to Hong Kong, you should also consider spending a little time in Macau.
The total population of Macau is close to half a million people. Most of the residents are of Chinese origin from various Chinese provinces. The remaining population (approximately 5%) is of Portuguese and European descent. Macao used to be a colony of Portugal before it returned to Chinese control in the late 1990s. In case you were wondering, Macao is sometimes referred to as ‘Macao’, due to the Portuguese history of the area. . The official languages are Chinese and Portuguese, with Cantonese being the most widely used. English is used mainly for tourism and business.
Macau’s many attractions make it worth a visit. Due to the Portuguese settlement, there are ancient fortresses, churches, temples, and gardens to tour. There are more than a dozen museums to see, including the Macau Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Wine Museum, the Grand Prix Museum, and the Handover Gifts Museum. Every year around November, the Macau Grand Prix car and motorcycle races are held. The Macau Tower, 338m high, is definitely worth a visit. Throughout the year there are many other events and festivals that you can participate in. Walking tours and shopping opportunities also abound. Aside from many new casinos being built, you may want to try your luck at some of the older casinos, or even at horse racing and greyhound racing tracks.
There is a lot of development going on in Macau, and this development will soon bring even more visitors. Many hotels, casinos, resorts and convention centers are currently under construction, with the first scheduled to open in 2006 and 2007. Part of the development is occurring on the Cotai Strip, which is reclaimed land between two Macau islands called Coloane. and Taipa. . The spelling of ‘Cotai’ comes from the names of these two islands. These developments are being planned by combinations of world-class hotel chains and major Las Vegas casinos, so they are sure to be impressive. The goal of the developers is to make Macau an international destination for resorts and casinos, and the term “Las Vegas of Asia” is often heard. Up to $ 6 billion is being spent on these developments, with 10,000 hotel rooms in the initial phase and expansion to 60,000 rooms in the third phase. Gambling in Macau will be a big draw for years to come.
If you spend some time traveling through Macau, you will probably cross the bridges on the peninsula. The names of two of the bridges are Nobre de Carvalho (the Friendship Bridge) and the Sai Van Bridge. The Friendship Bridge is the longest and goes directly to the Macau International Airport. Yes, you can fly directly to Macau. The airport is located on the island of Taipa.
In closing, if you are interested in experiencing a mix of two cultures in a small area, with plenty of unique tourist attractions and opportunities, then Macau and the Cotai Strip should be your next vacation.