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MACAU
At a glance | General Information | Special Visas | Cuisine | Travel | Climate | Attractions
Tours originating: Macau Macau Attractions: A-Ma Temple | Camoes Garden and Grotto | Grand Prix Museum | Kun Iam Temple | Lin Fung Temple (Temple of the Lotus) | Lou Lim Iok Garden | Macau Maritime Museum | Macau Wine Museum | Monte Fort | Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral | Sun Yat-sen Park

Macau at a glance:

Playing a very important role in the cultural expansion of Christianity throughout Asia and also a famous tourist city. Location: located in the southeast of China, between 113 east longitude and 22 north latitude, more precisely on the western bank of the Pearl River Delta, 38 nautical miles (70km) from Hong Kong and some 145km from Guangzhou. Neighboring Areas: Guangdong province, Hong Kong. Population: 450,000. Area: 21 sq. km. Nationalities: Han and Portuguese. Average Temperature: 20C with the highest of 32C and the lowest of 5C. Rainfall: average annual of 2,013 mm. Local Highlights: gambling, A-ma fete.

General Information:
The hand-over in 1999 signaled the surrender of the final piece of Asian soil under European colonial control. In Macau itself, this colonial historical legacy is nowhere more obvious than at the site of the Bella Vista hotel. Once a glorious colonial style hotel, it is now the residence of the Portuguese consul. The Chinese government has promised to allow Macau to continue as it was before under the "one country two systems" policy. Macau has been made a designated Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Chief Executive of the region is chosen by an electoral college consisting of local representatives. In practice the hand-over was surrounded by less pomp and circumstance than Hong Kong's hand-over in 1997 and day to day life in the region appears to have continued pretty much as before. Situated only 65km from Hong Kong, Macau is a tiny island with a big population (420,000 and growing) and a booming economy. This is an area with a fantastic mix of culture. The majority of the population is Chinese and the common language is Cantonese although Mandarin Chinese, English and Portuguese are all spoken too. The financial success of the region is due largely to the influx of tourists who come here to visit and to play in Macau's most famous sites; the Casinos. But casinos are not all that Macau is about. Until December 1999, Macau was Europe's oldest colony. As such, this is a city of amazing and fascinating cultural wealth. The unique blend of European and Oriental cultures existing here creates a pleasurable and laid back atmosphere in a truly beautiful city. Palm trees line the Portuguese named streets, Churches, Cathedrals and forts sit tight with ancient Chinese temples and buildings. The parks here are quaint and there are some great beaches and restaurants too. The most prosperous and impressive area of the city is around the Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, itself a symbol of the fusion of cultures existing in Macau.

Special Notes:
Visas:  Visas are not required for those holding passports from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Britain, USA, South Korea, Singapore, Luxembourg, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, India, Mexico and Germany. Visitors from these nations may stay for up to 20 days. Hong Kong residents with 3-star ID cards may stay for up to 90 days. Taiwan residents do not require a visa but do however, require a valid passport and entry permission for Hong Kong. Taiwan residents are permitted to stay in Macau for up to 20 days.
Language:  Most people in Macau speak Cantonese. Mandarin is becoming more popular and many people speak Portuguese and English too.
Currency:  Macau's currency is the pataca. This is written as M$. One pataca is divided into 100 avos. There are no exchange control regulations and money can be transferred in and out. HK$ are also widely used in Macau. The only currencies used in the casinos are M$ and HK$.

Cuisine:
Macau's fame for food and wine is legendary. The fusion of two very distinctive yet harmonious cultures has created an exquisite style of cuisine in Macau. Macanese cooking is a hybrid of ingredients and recipes from Portugal, India and Malaysia. Typical Macanese dishes are more spicy and curried than their Portuguese counterparts and include "balachu" (cod, baked and grilled) and soups such as "caldo verde" and "sopa alentejana". A couple of good restaurants to sample typical Macanese fare in are the A Locha on Rua do Almirante Sergio and the Solmar on Avenida da Praia Grande. This place do superb fish and their soups are also good. Some great traditional Portuguese food is served up in Alfonso III on Rua Central. Classical Portuguese food uses more olive oil and less chili than Macanese but is equally tasty. Alfonso III is a lovely little family run restaurant but it's often full, so try and book ahead. The deserts are especially good here including a tasty crème caramel. Other types of international cuisine are also available here including Italian, French and South Asian food. The Italian restaurant in The Mandarin Oriental Hotel receives good reviews and is an attractive and peaceful place to dine. Of course, there are numerous Cantonese restaurants around town too. For excellent dim sum (steamed, filled small buns and pastries) try the Jade Restaurant on Avenida do Almedia Ribeiro for a taste of typical Cantonese cuisine. This restaurant is open from 7:00 24:00. The selection of Portuguese wine available in Macau is impressive and most bars and restaurants stock some good vintages.

Travel:
Macau, with links to the mainland at Zhuhai and to Hong Kong, enjoys good transportation facilities and services with an International airport and efficient boat and hovercraft services operating out of the main port. By Air: The Macau International airport is located on Taipa Island. There are flights between Macau and Bangkok (4 flights per week), Beijing (daily), Shanghai (daily), Singapore (2 flights per week), Taipei (daily) and Xiamen (daily). There are also flights to Hong Kong which take twenty minutes. An airport bus connects the airport with the center of town and the Jetfoil Terminal. The bus ride takes about 15 minutes to the Rue Almeida Ribeiro. By Boat: A "Jetfoil hovercraft","turbocat", "catamaran", and "foil cat" operate out of Macau 24 hours a day. The journey takes approximately one hour and there are boats leaving Exchange Square in Central Hong Kong approximately every half an hour. All ferries land at the same port in Macau which is in the southeast of the town. The cost of the trip varies according to the type of ferry you take. Prices range from between HK$100-200. The queues in Hong Kong and Macau for the ferries can be very long at weekends and it's a good idea to arrive early if possible. You can also purchase your ticket in advance in Hong Kong from one of the numerous "Jetfoil" offices around town. City transport: Urban transport is good in Macau. The city's buses and taxis are generally reliable, although many of the taxi drivers have problems understanding English. Yellow taxis can be ordered by telephone- ask your hotel to arrange this for you. Those holding an International Driving License may rent cars to get about the peninsula. There are also pedicabs that hang about the town, especially at the port. Watch out for the guys who drive these things as they tend to get a bit cross if you don't agree to give them your business all day long!

Climate:
Macau's climate is moderately hot, with an average annual temperature of just over 20C. The humidity level is high averaging between 73% and 90% humidity. Rainfall is also high. The average yearly total is between 40 and 80 inches. The best season to visit is autumn (October-December) when the days are bright and warm and the humidity level is low. Winters (January-March) here are cold but sunny. Between April and September the climate is hot and humid with rain and occasional tropical storms (typhoons). Cotton or light clothing and a raincoat are recommended for the summer, and warm clothing is required in the winter. Sweaters and jackets are sometimes necessary for the cooler evenings between March and May, and September and November.

Attractions: ( = voted as the highly recommended attractions to visit)

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