Macao – located on the western bank of the Pearl River Delta in southern Guangdong Province, China – adjoins the Mainland city of Zhuhai and lies some 60 kilometers to the east of Hong Kong. Macao comprises Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane islands. Macao Peninsula is the hub of the territory and is connected to Taipa Island by three road bridges. Several large international hotel resorts – with new supporting infrastructure – are located on the reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane in the newly developed district known as COTAI.
The Portuguese arrived and settled in Macao in mid-16th century. Thus, the city’s architecture, art, religion, traditions, food, and community reflect the integration of Chinese, Western, and Portuguese cultures. Macao became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China on 20th December 1999 and exercises a high degree of autonomy under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”. The tiny SAR is growing in size with more buildings on reclaimed land, and in the number and diversity of its attractions. In 2005, The Historic Centre of Macao was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a result of its unique historical and cultural landscape. Macao is currently positioning itself as the World Center of Tourism and Leisure as it develops into a quality international tourist destination.
To learn more about Macao, visit the Macao Government Tourism Office website.
You will also find a wealth of information on visas and other tips about travelling to Macao in the Before You Travel page of the same website.
To find out what’s the weather like in Macao, visit the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau website.