Macau, the Las Vegas of Asia. Macau is composed of a peninsula, bordering Guangdong Province, and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. It is one China’s two Special Administrative Regions. Macau’s name was a product of Portuguese’s mispronunciation of A-Ma-Gau, the bay of goddess A-Ma.
Macau is a fitting example of the East meets West. The stone fortresses, cobble streets, and baroque churches reflect Portuguese influence on the city. The centuries-old structures like the Ruins of St, Paul’s give visitors a feel of the Mediterranean. In fact, UNESCO has named 30 buildings and squares in Macau as World Heritage Sites. The Ruins of St. Paul or RUinas De Igreja Sao Paulo is Macau’s most famous landmark. Another UNESCO world heritage site is the A-Ma Temple, the oldest temple in Macau featuring classic Chinese architecture.
Macau is not just about the World Heritage Sites. It is famously known as a gambling hub. Las Vegas style casinos are Macau’s answer to Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. Casino Lisboa and Sands Casino stand amongst the historical structures of Macau. Visitors also pamper themselves in world class Macau hotels like the
Hotel Royal Macau and
Hotel Beverly Plaza. Undeniably, casinos and luxurious Macau hotels continue to draw a lot of gambling aficionados and tourists.
Most visitors get into Macau thru ferries. The main and busiest ferry terminal is the Macau Ferry Terminal. It handles ferries linking Macau to
Hong Kong and Macau to other ports like Shékou International Port. Another ferry terminal in Macau is Yuet Tung Terminal found in Pier No. 11 at the Inner Harbour. This port services boats and sampans going to Wanzai, Jiangnmen and Shenzhen. There is also the Macau International Airport for those who prefer to travel by plane. Those coming in from mainland China can take the bus or rent a car.
A visit to this region is like setting foot on three continents at the same time. Vegas style casinos, Mediterranean architecture and Chinese culture – all in
Macau!
