China Guide
Macau
Sixty kilometres across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong lies the former Portuguese enclave of MACAU. Handed back to China in 1999, it is, like Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region (SAR). Occupying a peninsula and a couple of islands of just thirty square kilometres in extent, Macau's unique atmosphere has been unmistakably shaped by a colonial past, which has left Baroque churches and unusual food in its wake. But what draws in millions of big-spending tourists are Macau's casinos, the only place in China where they have been legalized. The income they generate – over US$5 billion annually – now exceeds that of Las Vegas, and has funded a construction boom for themed resorts, roads and large-scale land reclamation.
Considering that costs are a good deal lower here than in Hong Kong, and the ease of travel between Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau, it's a great pity not to drop in on Macau if you are in the region. A day-trip from Hong Kong is possible (tens of thousands do it every weekend), though you really need a couple of nights to do the place justice. Another reason to visit is the extremely low airfares to Singapore and Bangkok – what might be the first signs of Macau positioning itself as a bargain gateway to the rest of Asia, next to the expense of travelling from Hong Kong.
Macau comprises several distinct parts. The largest and most densely settled area is the peninsula, bordering the Chinese mainland to the north, where the original city was located and where most of the historic sights and facilities remain. Off to the southeast and linked to the peninsula by bridges are Taipa and Coloane, once separate islands but now joined by a low-lying area of reclaimed land known as Cotai, which is being developed as a new entertainment strip. It's all very compact, and it's possible to get around much of Macau on foot, with public transport available for longer stretches.
Highlights
1 Old Macau Hunt for bargain rosewood furniture and traditional clothing in central Macau's cobbled streets.
2 Coffee, tarts and port Thanks to Macau's Portuguese heritage, most cafés and restaurants serve ink-black coffee, delicious custard tarts and port wine – almost unknown elsewhere in China.
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