Get A Room In Macau - Vegas Of The Orient
Macau, known as the Las Vegas or Monte Carlo of the Orient, gets its name from the Chinese goddess known as A-Ma or Ling Ma. It was originally settled in the 1550s by Portuguese merchant explorers. Macau is located at the mouth of Pearl River Delta, 70 Kms from Hong Kong, near the Special Economic Zones of Zhuhai and Shenzhen.
Apart from the various interests from the mixed cultures, the old houses, Chinese temples, Portuguese fortresses, baroque churches, flowering gardens and patios, tourists get a room in Macau primarily for the gambling in the magnificent casinos and hotels.
In addition, you might want to get a room in Macau for the Arts Festival, the International Music Festival, the Fireworks Festival, the Macau Grand Prix, the Chinese New Year, the Miss Macau Contest, the Dragon Boat Festival and various international sports events.
All About Macau
Land Area - Macau comprises of a peninsula (Macau with 2.73 sq miles) and two islands (Taipa and Coloane with a total of 4.81 sq miles) in the Pearl River, with Hong Kong some 60Kms to the east. All the islands are connected by a network of bridges.
Macau Religions -Macau had three religions Buddhism (93%), Catholicism and Protestantism.
The Population of Macau - Macau has a population of approximately 400,000 with 95% being Chinese and 5% of the population being Portuguese and some other regions.
The Languages of Macau -The two official languages are Portuguese and Chinese, with Cantonese the most widely spoken.
Macau Currency -The PATACA is the official unit of currency in Macau. There are two types of banknotes in circulation - those of the BNU (Banco Nacional Ultramarino) and the new issuer, the Bank of China.
The Macau Exchange Rate -The Pataca (MOP) is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at a rate of about MOP$103.20 = HK$100.
The Macau Economy -In 1994, Macau had total deposits in its banking system of US $6.6 billion and foreign exchange reserves of US $1.6 billion. Macau has no foreign debt and only 2.5% unemployment. Exports of goods amounted to US $1.866 billion of which textiles and garments earned US $1.37 billion. This represented increases of 4.3% and 5.2% respectively.
Travel to Macau
Macau can be reached by air, land, or sea. Use Macau's most recent form of transportation is the new International Airport. There are presently 12 airlines serving the new Macau international Airport. Some of the major airlines serving Macau are Korean Air, Malaysian Airlines, Singapore and TAP Air Portugal.
Want to do some gambling in Macau’s opulent casinos? From Hong Kong you can take Jetfoils to reach Macau in 1 hour. Get a room in one of the many casino hotels in this beautiful oasis of the orient.
Macau Tourist Attractions
If gambling isn’t your thing and you want to take in some of the sights in Macau and the local attractions, take the Jetfoils form Hong Kong and get a room in a 4 or 5 star hotel in Macau. Venture out into the city and check out these Macau attractions.
Border Gate - this gate erected in 1870 marks the only official crossing point into China.
Canidrome - the greyhound races are held 4 times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday evenings. Entry is 2 patacas.
Macau Casinos - You can get a room in the following casino hotels: Lisboa, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Regency, Kingsway and Mandarin Oriental. Cibernetic Fountain- interactive fountain, giving the audience a good show of colour, light and sounds. Its 70-metre high geyser is the second highest in the world.
Macau Grand Prix Museum - located at the basement of the Tourist Activities Centre, at Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes, it is opened daily from 10am-6pm housing a valuable collection of items related to the long historyof the Macau Grand Prix. Guia Fortress and Lighthouse- the first of its kind to be built on the China Coast.
Largo do Senado Square - paved with wave pattern stones of Portuguese design and surrounded by historic buildings, it is a zone exclusively for pedestrians up to the ruins of St. Paul's Church and offers a pleasant walking experience.
Leal Senado - the Municipal Council is located in the heart of the city. The building is regarded as the most outstanding example of Portuguese colonial architecture in the territory.
Lou Lim Ieoc Garden - beautiful Chinese garden modeled on those in Soochow, with its twisting walks and ornamental 'mountains', it resembles a landscape in a Chinese painting.
Luís de Camões Garden and Grotto - Where Luís de Camões, the famous Portuguese soldier-poet, composed part of the national epic 'Os Lusíadas'. Macau Jockey Club-race meetings are held every weekend during the racing season. It is located on Taipa Island.
Macau Maritime Museum -concentrates on Portuguese and Chinese maritime links. It has a centre of maritime studies and a small workshop. Monte Fort-this served as a place of defense from an invasion in 1622 when a Dutch fleet attempted to invade the city. From here one can have a good view of the city. The site will be the future Macau Museum of History. Penha Church-from this hilltop there are sweeping views of the Inner Harbour and the city, the Pearl River and the islands and hills of nearby China. Constructed in 1622 by funds raised from the crew and passengers of a boat which was nearly capture by the Dutch.
Pousada de São Tiago -a Portuguese Inn constructed in traditional style, using handcrafted decorative features within the walls of a 16th century fortress.
Ruins of St. Paul -probably the most famous site in Macau. Built in the early 16th century, only the facade remains today, as a result of a fire in 1835.
Taipa House Museum -this is designed to show a typical house in the outset of the 20th century. It is located in Avenida da Praia, Taipa Island, and open daily except Mondays, from 9:30am to 1pm, and 3pm to 5:30pm. Temple of A-Ma-a temple of goddess after whom the name Macau was derived. Temple of Kun Iam-in 1844, this was where the first trade and friendship treaty was signed between China and the USA. Village of Coloane-this contains a chapel dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, Tam Kong Temple, and the junk building village.
