MACAU

Macau, located on the southeast coast of China, is a special administrative region of the country. Being Asia’s well-known gambling Mecca, it is a place to find the traditional Chinese culture while enjoying the exotic Portuguese buildings. The name of the city is derived from the word Magao (A-Ma Temple), which was the shrine dedicated to Mazu, a sacred sea goddess respected by the local people. It was said that in the middle of sixteenth century when the Portuguese first set foot there, one of the officers asked a fisherman the name of the land.

The majority resides on the Macau Peninsular where you can find a variety of both Oriental and Western cultural and historical places of interest and all sorts of old buildings that are either European baroque or traditional Chinese in style. The blend of people, culture and history has influences on every aspect of life in the city. A wander around the Peninsular will bring you into a world of antiques and fashion, traditional and modern, as well as tranquility and glitz.

Most visitors who have been there conclude that it is a location suited to both tourism and living, as it is a beautiful city with clean streets, gardens and picturesque hilly landscapes. Sunshine, clear air, green lands and all sorts of delicious food all contribute to its many attractions.

Known as ‘Oriental Las Vegas’, the gambling industry in Macau is booming and has already become an important feature of the local economy. Surprisingly, visitors do not find the kind of razzmatazz in the city’s casinos as elsewhere; by contrast you can feel the expectations of gamblers from their polite manners and the peaceful atmosphere.

Macau, a famous destination with prosperity and peace, fashion and history, oriental and western cultures, is deserving of a visit and a stay here is sure to revitalize the weary visitor.

Best time to visit:

  1. Autumn and winter, especially mid- October to December are recommended as the best time to visit.

Minimum days required:  5 Days

Places of Interest:

  1. Macau Tower
  2. Ruins of St Paul
  3. A-Ma Temple
  4. Senado Square
  5. Macau Fisherman’s Wharf
  6. Museum of Macau
  7. Grand Prix Museum

Climate:

  1. Macau has a humid subtropical climate with average relative humidity between 75% and 90%.
  2. Similar to much of South China, seasonal climate is greatly influenced by the monsoons, and differences in temperature and humidity between summer and winter are noticeable, though not as great as inland China. The average annual temperature of Macau is 22.7 °C (72.9 °F).
  3. July is the warmest month, with average temperature being 28.9 °C (84.0 °F). The coolest month is January, with a mean temperature of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F)

Currency: Macanese Pataca

Things to carry:

  1. Due to the generally warm weather in Macau, visitors can usually get away with light clothing in the daytime, though it is advisable to bring formal clothes for visiting some casinos.
  2. In winter (January to March), long trousers and a jumper give warmth at night. An umbrella or raincoat is good protection against any wet Macau weather.

How to get there:

Air

  1. Macau International Airport (MFM) is off the Shore of Taipa Island. It has basic facilities and a couple of aerobridges, but it is possible that you will park on the tarmac and take a bus to the terminal.