Macau buying snow

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Macau buying snow

Wow, that looks amazing! Great post! Thanks for including the historical facts. Fascinating post. Loved that you included some history. The pasteis de nata looks soooo good. Lovely photos too! Great photos! I have a blog post about that one Also how weird are those square meat things! Thank you for commenting. It was a relatively sleepy city and peninsula then. I came mostly to honor the memory of the Portuguese 16th century poet Camoens sometimes spelled Camoes who wrote the beginning of his epic, Os Lusiadas, in a cave on Macau! He had letters from several American tourists who had hired him earlier, saying how nice and intelligent he was he was both, indeed. When we came to a hill I stepped off the passenger-seat in order to walk up the hill and save him the burden of bicycling me up the hill lbs.! He was wonderfully strong. I wrote a recommendation-note for him, too. I had a lovely time in Macau in those fewer-tall-buildings days with no visit to the casinos. And I found your essay very charming and informative. It has a genuine personal touch. Thank you. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Have you ever been curious about how many countries have you visited? I sometimes open one of those websites where you can count that, but many of those include a little surprise — Macau is listed as a separate country. What does that mean for the regular tourist? Exploring Macau? Check out this Macau City self guided audio tour on your phone! Need mobile data for your phone while in China? There are many interesting facts related to Macau. In the The street signs are in Chinese and Portuguese! Since the 16th century this was a territory that mostly interested Portuguese, as Macau had a good location for a port. At that time there were no major villages here. Finally, when Macau wanted to sell aviation fuel to Japan, USA did an airstrike, destroying the warehouses. After protests from Portugal, in the USA paid over 20 million dollars for this incident. At that moment talks of returning Macau begun. Macau was the last European colony in Asia, and the ruling of return to China came into force in But until Macau will have the rights of autonomy, as specified in the contract. Most of the European only visit Macau for a one day trip on a ferry from Hong Kong. It takes a bit over two hours and costs roughly 10 euro per person. There are bus stops at all major international hotels in Guangzhou, and buses depart almost every thirty minutes. When we exit in Zhuhai, we are slightly confused — where should we go now? We decide to spend the last of remaining yuan for dinner and then look for the border crossing. Then the labyrinth begins. Seems like we walk for several kilometers through different barriers, tunnels, hundreds of steps, and finally we are at the Chinese border. A lady crosses our visas and then we go to the Macanese side. No stamps here, good news for those who visit often, not so good for the stamp collectors! Once entering Macau, we quickly change yuan to Macanese pataca. One pataca is 11 euro cents 1 yuan is 14 cents and 1 Hong Kong dollar is roughly 11 cents as well. You can pay in yuan or Hong Kong dollars everywhere, just have to be mindful of the exchange rate. We decide to change some coins nevertheless, to be sure we can pay in the taxi. Despite the fact that Macau was Portuguese colony, driving is done on the left side of the road, same as in Hong Kong. In China driving is on the right side of the road. Most of the times you can avoid using the taxis in Macau, as largest hotels have free transfer buses. Once we exit the gates, we try to find the bus, apparently they were just there, on the left side, but we though those were just advertisements. Unfortunately the last bus headed to the direction of our hotel has already left, so we are stuck taking a taxi. Usually noone asks anything. There are also such buses going from the city center to the largest casinos and Macau tower. Macau city center is an interesting mix between China and Europe. Old churches and grand buildings next to small streets with underwear drying out on the ropes and someone riding a bicycle transporting some large goods. Macau city center has about twenty locations that are worth seeing. Churches, theaters, temples and a fort that hosts the Museum of Macau, with an excellent view to the whole city. Most people come to Macau for the casinos, as clearly, the leading city attraction on TripAdvisor is The Venetian, a large casino that looks like Venice, but indoors. Macau historical center is only the second. Casino is impressive enough, the fake Venice has a ceiling the color of evening sky, pictures of houses with real, very expensive shops inside, and a canal where you can take a gondola right with a Chinese gondolier. I was mostly impressed by the massive light projections on the main facade. We were there shortly before Christmas, which is also the time of the festival of light, and there was a screening of a cartoon on the front of the building. In comparison to this, local Latvian light festival pales. Of course, the budget of this one animation must be lager than the whole city festival money spent in Riga. The show plays every few minutes, and in the end fake snow is sprayed on people, so all ground is covered with sticky white powder. Wedding parties use this place for photo-shoots, tourists take pictures under the fake evening sky and it feels like some people think this is all Macau is, never leaving the one building they are in. The festival of light has also other shows in the city, another beautiful one at the St. Pauls ruins. There are lit up metal ships on the stairs that sound like they are shooting, the facade is covered in bright lights and police controls the traffic to ensure noone gets hurt. We also notice a family living in an apartment right next to the steps, not paying the slightest attention to the show, watching TV. Life like in an aquarium, for everyone to see. The ruins of St. Paul are some of the most impressive viewpoints in Macau from the historic perspective, and they are part of the historic buildings group included in the world heritage list. The church was build in the 17th century by Jesuits, and Japanese Christians, persecuted in Japan, worked on the facade. It depicts the early days of Christian churches in Asia, a mix of oriental and Christian traditions. Now the facade is strengthened with large pillars and there is a museum inside no fee. You can go inside and take a look at the crypt and the archaeological artifacts found here. Why there are only ruins left? After Jesuits where kicked out of the church, army barracks were made here. In the church burned down, and only beautiful facade remains. Luckily, it was strengthened in the nineties rather that demolished. We walk in the streets during the festival, crossing the large Largo Do Senado square that has a tunnel of lights and a Christmas tree. We also notice a store, Watsons, at the square and think the logo looks a lot like our local beauty store Drogas. You can also buy traditional snacks on the street, such as pasteis de nata or the Portuguese egg tart tastes just like in Lisbon! You ca buy them too early in the morning, as they have to be heated right, and in the evenings stores usually run out them. Locals mostly eat street food bought in the small street corner stalls. You can buy also expensive traditional dried meet bakkwa , which costs about 8 euros per grams. I thought it would be similar to beef jerky, but this one is made in large sheets and shop keeps cut a piece with scissors. Tastes like unsavory sausage. One of the most interesting sights in Macau is the A-Ma temple, where the name of Macau originates. I have some of the best memories of this temple from whole visit to Macau. This temple was build in and is one of the most well known Taoist temples in Macau, build to honor the goddess of the sea and fishermen, Matsu. The temple is located at a foot of the mountain, and to get to the top, you climb beautiful stairs. The whole temple territory is in front of your eyes then, and you can also see the large round windows of the temple. Locals come, burn candles and incense, and bow. There are also burning sticks in the shape of hats, that move in the wind. Westerners will like the beautiful lotos shaped candles you can buy here. Not far from the A-Ma temple is another well known building, the m high Macau Tower. Those who are scared to jump, can walk at the very edge, connected to a security lanyard. The older hotels are on the Macau peninsula, which is connected to Taipa and Coloane islands by bridges. All the new casinos are there. The fans of the nature can also go to the newly opened Panda pavilion. The Grand prix museum, numerous historical and not only other museums, the Science center, Taipa and Colonane villages. One day tour from Hong Kong is definitely not enough, especially if you want to see one of the evening shows in the casino. Macau does have a similar feel as Las Vegas, a lot of people on the street are drunk, they laugh, even sing, and every tourist has a selfie stick. Macau leaves an impression as a place for more wealthy visitors than average, and the numerous expensive brand shops facilitate this impression even more. If you are curious to find out how our trip continued in Hong Kong, read the full story here! Thanks for sharing this. The older hotels are on the Macau peninsula. Thank you for your comment! This must have been a different world back then! Add comment Cancel Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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Macau ski and snowboarding school: the coolest hotspot in town

Macau buying snow

Returned to Chinese rule in , it is now a semi-autonomous ' Special Administrative Region ', a status it shares with nearby Hong Kong. Macau is best known as a major destination for gambling. This goes back to colonial times, when Hong Kong had tight limits on gambling—it was legal only at the horse racing track twice a week—but Macau had casinos. Today, Macau is the only part of China where casinos are legal under the auspices of the 'One Country, Two Systems' arrangement. Macau overtook Las Vegas as the world's highest revenue gambling destination around and now has a substantial lead; several of the major Las Vegas-based casinos have built branches in Macau to cash in on the trend. Macau is by no means only a gambling destination and other attractions include gorgeous colonial architecture, some of it on the UNESCO World Heritage List , a lovely climate and some fine beaches, and excellent food and drink. Macau was geographically divided into three regions: the peninsula and two islands. However, reclamation of the area between the islands has created a fourth region called Cotai. The buildings and cobblestone or patterned brick streets in many parts of the city, particularly the center of the old city and Coloane , look much like somewhere in Mediterranean Europe. However, the people and the Chinese-language signage indicate Asia. The Portuguese and Macanese population continues to maintain a presence, but most of the population is ethnically Chinese. Like neighbouring Hong Kong, Macau operates under a 'One Country, Two Systems' principle, retaining most laws and governing structures from colonial times. Although part of China, Macau has its own border control, currency, legal system and postal service, so for most tourists it feels like visiting a different country. Macau is unique in many ways, but it also has many close cultural and economic ties with Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region across the border. The area between the two islands has been reclaimed from the sea and built up into the Cotai Strip ; that has become an area of intense development with many new casinos and hotels. The mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai borders Macau to the north and west, and the border crossing carries heavy two-way vehicular and pedestrian traffic. There is significant movement by the local population of Zhuhai and Macau across the border, making the two feel like twin cities. Macau is subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. Air conditioning is widespread. In the 16th century, China gave Portugal the right to settle in Macau in exchange for clearing the area of pirates. The city was formally colonized in after escalating clashes between China and Portugal, as the First Opium War exposed Qing Dynasty's weakness to European powers. Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Like any port city, Macau has always had brothels and other places of ill-repute catering to sailors. Like many other places, it has also had organised crime; in the s there were gang wars sometimes involving automatic weapons in the streets, while the Portuguese administration largely left the territory to its own devices and did little to combat the violence. However, after the Chinese takeover, the gangs were firmly crushed and today, Macau is no more dangerous than any other major tourist destination. China uses the slogan 'one country, two systems' for relations between the central government and the two SARs, Hong Kong and Macau. Both are part of China, and neither can have an independent foreign policy or military force, but each has it own laws and legislative assembly and issues its own visas and currency. The governing systems are complex and some locals complain that they are insufficiently democratic and there is too much control or influence from Beijing. That said, Macau enjoys some Western-style freedoms that are unheard of in the mainland, such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and an uncensored internet. Unlike in Hong Kong, the independence movement has failed to gain traction in Macau, and most residents have welcomed Chinese rule and the 'one country, two systems' arrangement. During the Portuguese administration, Macau had long been neglected by the colonial authorities, leaving it with a weak economy at the time of the handover. Following the handover, Macau's economy developed rapidly due to the opening of gambling licenses. Thousands of tourists are in Macau each day, mainly from mainland China and Hong Kong. The standard of living in Macau has as a result grown significantly, and in many cases, is on a par with some Western European countries. This development has been recognised by the International Monetary Fund IMF , which has classified Macau as an advanced economy since The tourism industry has also diversified: Macau is also promoting its historic sites, culture and cuisine. Macau's citizens receive a universal basic income of around 10, patacas a year, funded by the territory's casino revenues. In order to maintain peaceful relations with China , Portugal often treated Macau as a 'Chinese city administrated by Portugal' rather than a full-fledged Portuguese colony like Brazil or the Portuguese colonies in Africa. As a result, the Portuguese language, Catholicism, and many other elements of Portuguese culture never saw widespread adoption in Macau, which apart from the casinos and the colonial buildings, remains a Cantonese city at heart. The term Macanese does not usually refer to people born or with residence in Macau, but rather to a particular ethnic group, namely people of Asian ancestry with either some Portuguese ancestry, or at least, major Portuguese cultural traits such as adopting Catholicism or speaking Portuguese at home. Macanese form a small but culturally important minority. The future of the Macanese is uncertain — while many government officials see the preservation of Portuguese culture as vital to tourism and future business opportunities in the SAR, some Macanese opt to neglect their Portuguese heritage in order to better integrate into society. The local culture in Macau is primarily based on traditional Chinese culture, particularly that of Guangdong province, due to its history as part of that region. That said, the Portuguese have also left their mark on the local culture, perhaps most visible in its cuisine. As Macau was spared from the excesses of the Cultural Revolution, locals in Macau have retained many aspects of traditional Chinese culture that have been lost on the mainland. Great introduction to Macau's colourful history. You can buy this book at the museum in the Fortaleza do Monte which overlooks the Ruins of St. One of the oddities of Macau is that some Cantonese names and words that are pronounced with what in English is a 'W' sound, and that in Hong Kong are transliterated with a 'W', are transliterated with a 'V' instead, such as in Cheoc Van which in Hong Kong would be Chuk Wan. This can also be seen in the surname Vong in Hong Kong Wong. No doubt Portuguese pronunciation has had an influence on this choice of transliteration. To complicate things further, this has not been done consistently so there are both Vongs and Wongs in Macau - both written with the same Chinese character. Macau's official languages are Cantonese and Portuguese. Cantonese is the main language spoken in Macau. The variant of Cantonese spoken in Macau is similar to that of Hong Kong and Guangzhou , but has some unique local slang. Nevertheless, if you are fluent in standard Cantonese, this should not pose too much of a challenge. News broadcasts will be in standard Cantonese. Mandarin is becoming more widely spoken, having been compulsory in all government schools since the handover, and is the second most useful language in the territory after Cantonese — most locals are able to comprehend it to some degree, and all government offices are able to provide services in Mandarin. Most people schooled after , as well as staff working at major hotels and tourist attractions, will be reasonably competent in Mandarin. However, many older people have difficulties speaking Mandarin a prominent example is former Chief Executive Fernando Chui's Cantonese-peppered Mandarin. English is spoken by most front-line staff in the tourism industry. Nearly all museums and casinos have some staff with excellent English, as do many hotels, shops and restaurants, especially the up-market ones. However, English proficiency among the general population tends to be somewhat lower than in Hong Kong, though higher than in mainland China. It is useful to keep your hotel's name card for taxi drivers. Speakers of Portuguese will not find it very useful when trying to communicate with local residents as only a small minority is conversant in it, but it helps a lot in understanding place names and signs. As Portuguese continues to be an official language of the SAR, government offices are required by law to have Portuguese-speaking staff on duty. All official signs in Macau are bilingual in traditional Chinese and Portuguese, many are also in English. Under the 'one country two systems' policy, Macau continues to use traditional Chinese characters and not the simplified Chinese characters used in Mainland China. For many years, the usual way to get to Macau was to fly into Hong Kong and take a ferry across to Macau. Today, Macau is becoming a low-cost airline hub, and some travellers are now arriving at Macau to later go to Hong Kong. Macau has a separate immigration regime from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. All travellers from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries have to go through immigration and customs checks on arrival in Macau. As leaving mainland China for Macau is considered to be leaving China, if you wish to re-enter mainland China after visiting Macau, you will need a multiple-entry Chinese visa. Holders of a Hong Kong permanent identity card or a re-entry permit can enter Macau visa-free for up to 1 year without having to present their passport. Holders of a Hong Kong non-permanent identity card can enter Macau visa-free for up to 30 days and must present their passport. Those in transit to or from a third country may enter Macau with their passport for up to 7 days. For up to days: United Kingdom. In addition, all foreign visitors who intend to enter Macau for less than 48 hours for the purpose of travelling onwards to another destination via Macau International Airport are exempt from obtaining a visa. If you require a visa, it can be obtained from a Chinese diplomatic mission, but must be done so separately from the mainland Chinese one. Macau visas are separate from visas for Mainland China or Hong Kong; there is no single visa that serves more than one of these areas. A visa issued on arrival is valid for multiple entries within 30 days of the issuing date. However , Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Vietnamese citizens cannot use the visa on arrival facility unless they hold a Hong Kong identity card and must apply for a Macau visa at a Chinese diplomatic mission. The standard service takes 5 working days to process the visa application if the embassy needs to refer the application to Macau, the application takes 3 weeks. Immigration is generally straightforward but there have been reports of Indian nationals being targeted by immigration officials. It may be wise to be ready with credit cards or access to a bank account with sufficient funds. Minimum validity of travel documents. For foreign nationals, the maximum limit of stay in Macau is restricted to 30 days before the expiry date of the passport or travel document and the entry or re-entry permit. For example, if a New Zealand citizen presents a passport which has a validity of 40 days when she enters Macau, she will only be allowed to stay for up to 10 days, even though in general New Zealanders can stay for up to 30 days in Macau visa-free. Macau immigration no longer stamps passports. Instead, all visitors are issued a landing slip, on which your terms of entry will be stipulated, and your entry and exit will be recorded electronically. Detailed information about immigration requirements is available from the website of the Macau Public Security Police Force. This is still the main way in which most visitors get to Macau. This is a busy terminal handling most of the sea traffic between Macau and Hong Kong as well as the Chinese ports of Shekou and Shenzhen International Airport. The bus stop is on the main road to the right as you walk out of the building. Pick up a free bus schedule in the tourist information centre in the building. If you are heading straight to a casino or hotel, most of these establishments provide free shuttle buses. They gather to the left of the terminal building; step out of the arrival-level of the building and turn left. Next to the bus stops is a taxi rank. There is a lesser known ferry terminal at Pier No. This is a new ferry terminal building after its former Pier 14 site was given to developers by the Macau Government. It is very near to the Macau city centre and can be easily reached on foot. This terminal only serves ferries to Wanzai across the Inner Harbour in Zhuhai. It is next to the airport terminal. Immigration is very fast except at peak times and you do not need to complete an arrival card. The price of ferry tickets differ based on the time and day of the week of the ride. Ferry departures at night between 6PM and 6AM and on weekends are more expensive. Some offices here resell legit bulk tickets at a small discount, but an altogether slimier species sells unused tickets for ferries that are about to leave —you may catch them if you run, but will be out of luck and money if you don't. Be wary of anyone outside the elevators who enthusiastically beckons you to an agents office—and shows you tickets for future sailings, only for you to end up with tickets for ferries that are departing in the next few minutes. A few touts even pose as 'inspectors' and, with practiced sleight of hand, swap your ticket. Only let someone in uniform take your ticket! The official ticket booths there are also self-serve terminals are well-marked and the staff speak English and you don't need to show anyone your ticket until you enter the immigration area. The bus ride should be included in your ferry ticket. Ferries from Shenzhen Shekou Port to Zhuhai run every 30 minutes. Shops are limited apart from a money exchange, a convenient store and an unmanned post office. You can also take the coach from Guangzhou. Buses are available from the Guangzhou airport at regular intervals. The bus takes you within walking distance metres of Portas do Cerco — the usual entry point into Macau. There's direct coaches from Shenzhen , both from the airport and the long distance bus station, taking about three hours. You can also get a bus from either place to Gongbei bus station in Zhuhai. That puts you right across the street from the border facilities so you can walk to Macau see next section. This can save you a bit of money; the bus is about the same price either way, but food and hotels are cheaper in Zhuhai. Air Macau's website does not work well from outside of China, so it may be necessary to book through a travel agent. While nowhere nearly as well served as Hong Kong, the airport is popular among low-cost airlines thanks to its lower landing fees. The light rail system serves the airport, but only covers the southern areas of Taipa, Cotai, and Barra at the southwestern tip of Macau Peninsula. If you're heading to the city center, a bus is still probably your best bet. Bus AP1 plies a route between the airport and the Barrier Gate. Its route passes through several points on Taipa Island, and it stops at the ferry terminal on the peninsula on the way. It has limited provision for baggage, and can be very crowded you may not even get the first bus to arrive. The buses do not give change, but there is a currency exchange just inside the terminal that will change foreign currency into low denomination MOP. If you are bound for Hong Kong, Zhuhai or Shenzhen , you can use the airport's Express Link \[ dead link \] special bus service to connect directly to the ferry or the Zhuhai border without passing through Macau immigration. However, the bus schedule is limited 11AM-6PM only , which limits the utility somewhat; depending on your flight, if you don't need a visa for Macau, it may well be faster to go through immigration twice. If you have a same-day ticket, you can also use this service in the return direction to transfer directly to the airport. Connections to mainland China are no longer limited, with services to many cities. Xiamen Airlines flies to Fuzhou , Hangzhou and Xiamen. It is usually cheaper to fly to Zhuhai and cross the border by land as flights between Macau and the mainland are treated as international flights. There are three vehicular entry points into Macau from China. You can only enter if your vehicle cars only, no motorcycles has both Macau and mainland China number plates and the driver carries both Macau and China driver's licenses. You must switch sides of the road : mainland China drives on the right, Macau and Hong Kong drive on the left. Macau has no train service of its own but the There's hourly inter-city service from Guangzhou , daily high-speed service from Beijing , and twice-daily service from Beijing and Shanghai. You can cross from mainland China to Macau on foot at the above mentioned In fact, thousands of Macau and Chinese citizens do it daily, making it a horrendously busy crossing. Depending on the time and day of the week, expect long waits to get processed. On the Chinese side is the city of Zhuhai ; walking out of the terminal puts you right in the main tourist district, Gongbei. It also puts you right at the Zhuhai terminus of the fast trains which connect directly to Guangzhou and from there to almost anywhere in China. You'll be able to find buses to most parts of Macau, including Taipa, Coloane and the Cotai Strip from here. As most people crossing the Barrier Gate are either mainland or Macau residents, foreign passport holders may get a short queue at the Zhuhai immigration clearance as they do not pass through the same counters as Chinese nationals. However, Macau's immigration divides entrants only into Macau residents and visitors, without further differentiation, and foreigners have to queue with an overwhelming number of mainland residents. There is a separate, usually much shorter, queue reserved for diplomats, senior citizens, disabled people and pregnant women. There are money changers at the Barrier Gate that give very good rates so you can change your money into Chinese Renminbi before crossing the customs. In order to cope with the increasing immigration flow through Portas do Cerco, Qingmao Port is established near Zhuhai Railway station. The port of entry operates 24 hours a day, but is only intended for Chinese citizens and Macau and Hong Kong permanent residents who have registered their travel documents for electronic immigration clearance. Although you are not allowed to walk on the The current two bus route connects the Port to Portas do Cerco and urban Coloane. The trip takes just 16 minutes, but tickets cost a whopping HKD one-way, with a surcharge of HKD on major holidays. Unlike in mainland China, Google Maps is not blocked and can be used in Macau. Owing to privacy concerns, Macau's street views in Google Maps have not been updated since they were taken 15 years ago, so it's very outdated. This is arguably the best way to get around the Macau Peninsula, which is small, compact and full of things to discover. Many roads are also one way so there is quite a chance that it won't be slower than to take road transport which may need to make a long loop to reach the destination. Most streets have a pedestrian sidewalk making walking easy, although you will have to fight the crowds going in all directions. Cars are more mindful of pedestrians than in mainland China, but traffic rules are still not very well adhered to, so ensure that you look both ways before crossing and be careful of large vehicles in narrow roadways. In and around the Senado Square, the pavements will be made of hand-laid limestone pieces made into simple designs, something that will surely catch your attention. Macau is also hilly, be prepared to struggle up and down steep lanes and steps. Especially in the old city, the city streets do not seem to run in any particular pattern and you'll most likely get lost at some stage, which is part of the fun of exploring Macau. In the Cotai strip, distances are large but sidewalks are pretty consistently present. It is now fairly easy to walk between the Galaxy, Venetian and City Dreams casinos, and it is easy to walk between Galaxy and Taipa Village. Many of the hotels are connected to each other by indoor walkways lined with expensive shops. However, it's of limited utility to visitors since it does not serve the historic center or the main Porto Exterior ferry terminal. An extension across the Lotus Bridge to Hengqin Zhuhai may open as soon as , but while there are ambitious expansion plans beyond this, construction has yet to start. Trains run every 5—15 minutes from AM to after 11PM. The bus system in Macau can be difficult to use. It is often difficult to gauge which direction the bus is heading and the routes through the city center are very curvy, often making a long ride out of a short distance. Bus drivers usually only speak Cantonese, very little English or Mandarin and certainly no Portuguese at all. Most bus stops have no English on signs, although you can sometimes figure out the destination from the Portuguese bus stop names. Some bus stops have route descriptions with a list of stops on a rotating pole at the stop and a small coloured dot indicates the stop you're at including which direction on the route the stop serves. The ferry terminal is 'Terminal Maritimo' while other mentions of 'Terminal' indicate the terminus end of the route. Buses run early morning to late evening, most roughly from 6AM to midnight. Nevertheless, the websites of both companies list the stops that all their routes make. The tourist information desk at the ferry terminal has free maps with bus routes on them and can provide advice on how to get to a particular destination. Announcements on the bus are made in Cantonese, Portuguese, Mandarin, and English but with most of the stop names in Portuguese. Free WiFi is available on the buses. Get your destinations written in Chinese if you need to tell them where you're going. You should pay the exact fare as drivers do not give change if you overpay. For political reasons, you cannot use China T-union card in Macau, but you can use Macau Pass card or the MPay app for paying bus fares. Both systems do have certain drawbacks for short-term visitors. MPay requires a Macau, Hong Kong or China phone number to sign up, and you top up via cash at convenience stores. If you do get either Macau Pass or MPay though, you can also use it as payment in almost every store and restaurant. Scooters are a very economical and fun way to see the sites of Macau, they are also the primary mode of transport for locals due to Macau's narrow streets and lack of car parking space. Scooters are available for rental from a few dollars. Licenses from most countries covering mopeds or motorcycles are accepted. If you've got more time than money on your hands, you can travel around Macau for free simply by hopping on and off the complimentary shuttle buses operated by all major casinos and hotels. Virtually all serve the Terminal Maritimo, with buses every 5 to 10 minutes, while the big boys Venetian, Wynn, City of Dreams, Galaxy etc. The buses to Hotel Lisboa, for example, drop you off just a few blocks from Largo do Senado. Most of the casinos and hotels offer totally free shuttle buses, but some of the casinos on the waterfront of Old Macau, including the Lisboa, Wynn, and MGM, require users to first spend money in their casinos before getting the tickets. Some free shuttle buses also run between the main hotels on the Cotai Strip, and the larger hotels in the old city. These particular shuttles are often very popular but they run frequently, and it's unlikely that you will wait for long at any stop. Taxis are cheap and convenient. Taxi ranks are spread around the city but at peak times you will have to wait a bit for a taxi you can also hail taxis on the street but it is even harder to find them there. It is a good idea to have your destination written in Chinese as many taxi drivers only know Cantonese well. Most drivers speak little to no English, and effectively none speak Portuguese. Most taxi drivers carry with them a list of casinos and other important places, so in case there's a communication gap, just look for it on the sunguard of the front passenger seat. Car rental is not a popular option in Macau given the territory's high population density and small size. Avis provides car rental services in Macau and you have the option of renting the car with or without a driver. Roads are generally well maintained and directional signs are in both Chinese and Portuguese. If you intend to stay in Macau for over 14 days, you need to register your IDP with the police. No registration is necessary for stays under 14 days. Traffic moves on the left side of the road with most cars being right-hand drive as in neighbouring Hong Kong. Parking places are often limited due to Macau's density. A list of public car parks in Chinese can be found here , while their fees are listed here. For roadside parking, parking meters can only be paid by Macau Pass or UnionPay. Cash is no longer accepted for parking meters. Although best known for gambling, Macau is extremely rich in attractions and oozing with atmosphere, thanks to hundreds of years of fusion between European and Chinese cultures. Macau is a fascinating place to just walk around as the place is packed with churches, temples, fortresses and other old buildings bearing an interesting mix of Portuguese and Chinese characteristics. Besides buildings, there are also hundreds of narrow alleyways forming a maze in the old part of Macau where the people of Macau carry out businesses and work. If the sheer density of humans gets to you, take a break and enjoy several pretty gardens or head south to the islands. Despite being a Chinese deity, the statue is distinctly European in design and resembles the statues of the Virgin Mary you can find in Europe. And if history is not your thing, there is the Macau Tower of awesome views and adventure sports, or Fisherman's Wharf to enjoy some theme-park activities and shopping. You'll find most of the attractions in Macau Peninsula, but Taipa and Coloane, each with a pretty village, also draw hordes of visitors. Visit the Cotai reclaimed land area to see its transformation into the 'Las Vegas Strip of the East'. The Venetian is the most famous with its Venice-styled shopping mall with canals running through, and is also the largest casino in the world. The City of Dreams, not much smaller, high end fashion shops, three hotels and the world's most expensive theatre show see below. A large section of Macau Peninsula has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and 25 buildings and sites within the area have been deemed to have cultural and historic significance. One of the best ways to cover the sights is to do the Macau Heritage Walk circuit. The heritage buildings, the Sao Paulo Cathedral, the Fort and the Macau Museum are adjacent to each other and can be conveniently seen individually even if one cannot catch the Heritage walk timing. Taipa Village and Coloane Village , previously inhabited by fishermen, are also interesting with their colonial-era shops and houses along narrow lanes. Macau has several museums. The 'Macau Museum Pass', which used to give discounted entry to most of these, is no longer sold. The pavilion is in the middle of Seac Pai Van Park, and is a little bit more difficult to get to than other attractions in Macau. Entry to the park and the panda pavilion is free. In addition to its four resident giant pandas, the park also has red pandas, as well as several simians, a flock of flamingoes, and some other rare animals. An onsite gift shop sells panda memorabilia. Try to arrive in the morning, around 11AM perhaps, as the pandas tend to sleep later in the day. The park is served by bus lines 15, 21A, 25, 26, 26A, 50, 59, and N3. The bus stop is located at the north side of the park. Gambling is Macau's biggest industry and busloads arrive daily from mainland China to try their luck. In addition, many Hong Kongers arrive on weekends with the same aim. For decades, the Casino Lisboa was the largest and most famous, a landmark well-known to people outside Macau, but many more casinos have sprung up. Nevertheless, the original Casino Lisboa is still worth a visit as its halls contain many original antiques on display from the private collection of gambling tycoon Stanley Ho. The old casino area is along the waterfront on the southern side of Macau Peninsula. North of the Lisboa is a strip with many smaller casinos, a number of hotels and bars, and quite a few restaurants. This can be one of the more interesting areas of Macau; among other things it has quite a good Indian restaurant and several Portuguese ones. However, parts of it are also fairly sleazy, with lots of sex workers and touts, so some caution is in order. But all this is being overtaken by the new development on the Cotai Strip , which is being made into 'The Las Vegas Strip of the East'. The biggest casino in the world, Venetian Macao, opened its doors in August , the not-much-smaller City of Dreams followed in , others followed, and more are still to come. There are also several casinos on Taipa, including the Crown Macau. There are ATMs available at any casino, and many other Forex facilities to change your money. Gamblers are required to be at least 21 years of age to be allowed to play. Interestingly, local civil servants are not allowed to enter the casinos with the exception of the first three days of the Chinese new year. The stage holds five Olympic swimming pools worth of water, and ushers give the front few rows of the audience towels. At a height of m ft , the bungy jump from Macau tower, maintained and operated by A. Hackett is the second highest in the world. Along with the bungy, one can also try the Sky jump, that is somewhat like a jump but is more protected and doesn't involve a free fall, and a sky walk, that is a protected on a platform running around the circumference of the floor. Bouldering and sport climbing activities are also conducted at the tower's base. See the Macau Peninsula page for details. They are very popular and are frequented by locals and visitors, especially at the weekend. Besides beaches, there are several public swimming pools all over Macau. All high-end hotels also have swimming pools. There are opportunities for hiking and cycling on the relatively rural islands of Taipa and Coloane. In Coloane, the area is much more rural and is harder to be spotted. The area in Coloane is also more mountainous, creating more opportunities for hiking. A list of the hiking and cycling paths is available at the IAM website. Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available from XE. The currency of Macau is the pataca ISO code: MOP , which is divided into avos , though due to Hong Kong influence on Macau education, they may also be referred as 'dollar' and 'cent'. Macanese coins come in denominations of , 20 and 50 avos, 1-, 2-, 5 and 10 patacas. Macanese banknotes, similar to their Hong Kong counterparts, are issued by the commercial banks Banco Nacional Ultramarino and the Banco da China. They come in denominations of , , , , and 1, patacas. Government offices including post office and government museums though will only accept payments made in Patacas. Some stores may also accept other regional payment apps like Kakao Pay. You can sign up for the MPay app using just a Macau, Hong Kong, or mainland China phone number, it does not require any other personal details for a basic account. You can top up via cash at convenience stores. If you are staying in Macau for a while this is a useful option to pay. The Octopus card from Hong Kong though is generally not accepted one notable exception is cross-border golden bus trips that originate from Macau. Getting money is quite easy as there are banks and ATMs on nearly every street. Holders of a debit card on the international networks will have no issues withdrawing money. Chinese Union Pay cards are widely accepted, however withdrawal from ATMs requires a mainland identity card and facial scan. On the other hand, try not to leave Macau with a lot of patacas. Unlike the HKD, they are quite hard to exchange in most countries. Tipping customs are similar to Hong Kong. In full service restaurants, a service charge is usually imposed and that is taken to be the tip. If you wish to give a tip, you should give it in cash directly to the person you wish to reward for their good service and do it discreetly. Taxi drivers also do not expect tips, and would return exact change, or round it in your favour if they can't be bothered to dig for change. Quite frankly, the shopping options in Macau don't hold a candle to Hong Kong. While the newer megacasinos have introduced Macau to the joys of sterile franchise-filled malls, the city center streets around the older casinos are still a bizarre monoculture of ridiculously expensive watch, jewelry, and Chinese medicine shops with an emphasis on herbal Viagra-type cures , all aimed squarely at liberating lucky gamblers from their winnings. Finding tasteful souvenirs can thus be surprisingly challenging, although the touristy streets between Largo do Senado and the ruins of St. Paul's have adecent selection. Bargaining in the small shops can be done, but usually working on the principle of the shopkeeper quoting a price, the buyer making 'hmmm' sounds and the shopkeeper lowering the price a bit or a lot. A full-fledged haggling match is quite rare, as most antique shops sell precisely the same thing at precisely the same prices. There are many pawnshops, especially along Av de Almeida Ribeiro in the center of town, where losing gamblers sell their cameras and Rolexes to finance the trip home or a return to the tables. For buyers, prices are usually not particularly good, but if you know the merchandise and are prepared to bargain there are some good deals. Macau is famous for excellent restaurants, unique cuisine and mellow bars. Above all, the city is famous for two cuisines: Portuguese and Macanese. Portuguese food cozinha portuguesa , brought in by its Portuguese colonizers, is hearty, salty, straightforward fare. While many restaurants claim to serve the stuff, fully authentic fare is mostly limited to a few high-end restaurants, especially the cluster at the southwestern tip of the Peninsula. Typical Portuguese dishes include:. Macanese food comida de Macau was created when Portuguese and Chinese influences were mixed together with spices brought from Africa, India and Southeast Asia by traders, and many restaurants advertising 'Portuguese' food in fact serve up mostly Macanese dishes. All that said, the food of choice in Macau is still pure Cantonese , and a few aficionados even claim that the dim sum and seafood here beat Hong Kong. While the number of options is somewhat limited compared to Hong Kong, the popularity of the casinos with high rollers has also led to a proliferation of fine dining restaurants. The greatest concentration of restaurants is in the Peninsula, where they are scattered throughout the district. Taipa is now a major destination for those going for Portuguese and Macanese food and there are many famous restaurants on the island. There are several restaurants in Coloane, which is also home to the famous Lord Stow's Bakery , which invented the Macanese egg tart. Vegetarians should take advantage of the Peninsula's hole-in-the-wall vegetarian restaurants serving devout Buddhists. Beyond providing a tasty, inexpensive vegetarian meal, these are a way to get away from the tourists and eat the way locals do. As dairy and eggs are little used in Chinese vegetarian food, most non-dessert dishes in vegetarian restaurants are suitable for vegans , but do pay attention, particularly when it comes to desserts. See Chinese table manners for more details on dining etiquette in Macau. While there are some minor differences, much of traditional Chinese table manners apply in Macau too. Similar to neighbouring Hong Kong, the legal drinking age in Macau is Alcohol vendors have the power to demand identity documents to prove your age. Reasonably priced Portuguese wine is widely available. As elsewhere in China, though, locals tend to prefer cognacs and whisky. There is also a wine museum in which you can have the opportunity to taste over 50 varieties of wine. There is a buzzing nightlife in Macau. Locals, especially younger people, prefer to meet up with their friends in western style cafes or places that serve 'bubble tea', tea served with tapioca balls and often fruit-flavoured that can be served either hot or cold. The shops in the town centre near Senado Square are often open until late at night and are often crowded. The casinos have also become a big hit for entertainment, offering performances of international level advance booking advised and comprehensive shopping malls for those less interested in trying their luck with the machines. For ladies who want to pamper themselves after a shopping spree, there are spas available in almost all respectable hotels. These are different from 'saunas', which are thinly disguised brothels prostitution is legal in Macau , but these can be easily distinguished by their shop appearance. The bulk of Macau's hotels are on the Peninsula , although there are also many options - including high-end ones - on Taipa and, increasingly, the Cotai Strip, which is challenging the Peninsula to become Macau's premier casino area. Coloane has fewer and much quieter options, but among them is the beachside Pousada de Coloane. Hotel rates are most expensive on Friday and Saturday nights, because demand is higher with tourists coming to Macau to gamble over the weekend. Try to make a booking through a travel agent, even if for the same day, as the rates can be substantially lower than walk-in rates. If you are coming from Hong Kong, book through an agent at the Shun Tak ferry pier for the best deals. Getting a package deal including return ferry tickets gives you the best price. When booking your room, you will need to show your landing slip issued at the border. In the Inner Harbour area, many of the pensions and cheap hotels are also the place of business for many of the mainland Chinese prostitutes that work in Macau, and most hotel 'saunas' are in fact thinly disguised brothels. Macau has 12 tertiary education institutions. Non-residents who wish to take up employment in Macau, including those from Portugal or mainland China , need to obtain a valid work permit and are then issued the so-called Blue Card officially called Non-Resident Worker's Permit. The process takes approximately a month to receive a work permit, at which time employment may begin, and another 1—2 months to receive the Blue Card. As illegal employment has over the past decades been a problem plaguing Macau, the authorities do crack down severely on any offenders both worker and employer caught. Visitors are therefore advised not to engage in illegal employment. The Public Security Police is tasked with crime prevention and deterrence, traffic control, and immigration duties. Public Security Police officers wear light blue uniforms, and have badges on their uniform. Their police vehicles are painted in dark-blue. In an emergency, particularly imminent crimes against persons, they can be contacted by , the unified emergency number for police, fire services and medical emergencies. Meanwhile, the Judiciary Police deals with most crimes, though they have increased presence in prominent public spaces. Judiciary Police officers are plain clothed, and should wear a vest showing their police identity. In an emergency, they can be reached by Though the Public Security Police will also refer cases to the Judiciary Police, it is better to directly contact the Judiciary Police in case of crimes. Compared to many other cities in the world, Macau is relatively safe to travel. The standard of living of the local Macau residents is generally good one of the best in Asia. In addition, as a city geared towards tourism, the Macau government is keen to 'clean up' the city and its image. For example, the police in Macau is now seen by the public as more effective than it used to be. A National Security Law was enacted in , and its contents were beefed up in , making it similar to the one in neighbouring Hong Kong. Although the law has never been used to prosecute anyone since its enactment, you are advised to behave in the same way as if you're in mainland China or Hong Kong. Unlike Portuguese drug law, drug law in Macau is significantly stricter, and is on par with East Asian standards. Illegal usage of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia can be punished by imprisonment for 3 months to a year. Casinos are a profitable business around the world for a reason, and are made to be addictive by design, so if you wish to play, please do so responsibly. The city's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau provides a list of social welfare organizations that worked on problem gambling. If you feel that you are addicted, you may also apply for self-exclusion through the same bureau. Despite being widely advertised in Mainland China , the Macau government never approved casino licenses for online gambling. You may face criminal responsibility for illegal gambling, and might fall victim to scams and triads. There is a risk of typhoons , mainly between July and September. A system of typhoon warnings is in place that are issued by the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau and are broadcast widely on television and radio:. The typhoon warning system is basically a copy of the system used in Hong Kong. During a number 8, 9 or 10 typhoon everything in Macau shuts down. People stay home and it is not advisable to venture outside as there is the risk of injury or worse from flying debris. Storm surges may accompany with typhoons, and cause severe flooding across the city. The storm surge warning system means the following:. Expect citywide flooding when red or black storm surge warning is issued. A list of affected areas by levels of storm surge warning can be found here. Sirens will be activated for warnings above orange level. The government has enacted an evacuation plan after the devastating typhoon in , and regular exercises are conducted to prepare for typhoons and storm surges. Some people experience cold symptoms after moving between the two extremes often; it is not unusual to wear a sweater or covering to stay warm indoors, and it is therefore usually good advice to carry a long-sleeve item of clothing when expecting to visit air-conditioned places for extended periods of time. Whilst tap water is safe to drink taste aside , most locals boil or filter their water or buy inexpensive bottled water, because of the taste and because water storage systems in individual buildings are not always well maintained. You should boil it too if you're not sure about the quality of the pipes in the building where you're staying. Because of the region's history battling SARS and later dealing with avian flu H5N1 , good personal hygiene is strongly advisable. Although Macau's healthcare system is adequate for routine consultations, the lack of properly trained specialists and facilities means that you will be most likely referred to Hong Kong for more serious issues. While Hong Kong subsidises its residents for public hospital treatment, you will not be eligible for this if you are resident in Macau. As such, make sure that your insurance policy covers both the cost of medical evacuation and the full unsubsidised cost of treatment. There have been some cases of dengue fever. The government has sprayed insecticide in areas where there is the potential of mosquito breeding, so this risk is largely contained. Social etiquette in Macau is very similar to neighbouring Hong Kong. People in Macau are generally friendly to foreigners given the fact that Macau had hundreds of years of Portuguese colonial rule, the locals, even the older population are used to living side by side with Westerners. However, do not assume the locals speak English or Portuguese ; a few essential Cantonese phrases are always helpful. Politics is in general not as sensitive an issue in Macau as it is in Hong Kong; there is no active Macau independence movement, and most residents have welcomed the 'One Country, Two Systems' arrangement. Similarly, the use of Mandarin is not as politically charged in Macau as it is in Hong Kong. Unlike in Hong Kong, locals in Macau have largely fully embraced the 'Chinese' identity. Just as in Hong Kong, people meeting for the first time greet each other with a firm handshake. When giving and receiving business cards, be sure to do so with both hands and a slight dip of the head. Giving or receiving a business card with only one hand is regarded to be very rude. Contemporary Macau is largely secular in daily life, with religion playing almost no role in people's work or political affiliations. That said, most of the ethnic Chinese majority still follows a mix of Buddhism and traditional Chinese folk religions to some extent. When visiting Chinese temples, basic respect should be shown. For instance, you should not point at the statues of deities using your index finger as it is considered to be very rude; use your thumb or an up-facing open palm instead. However, taking photos is usually allowed and you don't need to ask for permission as long as there isn't a no-photography sign posted. As a legacy of Portuguese rule, Roman Catholicism is practised by a significant minority, including most of the ethnic Macanese community, and there are numerous churches catering to them. The Roman Catholic church is allowed to operate freely in Macau. The Falun Gong religion is allowed in Macau, and its followers occasionally stage protests against the Chinese government. Look for the network 'FreeWiFi. MO by WiFiGo'. A few hotspots provide hour service; others are 8AM to 1AM. Neither of these networks are particularly reliable. The tourist information offices on Largo do Senado and at the jetfoil terminal have maps, information on museums and events, helpful English-speaking staff, and at the Largo do Senado office free Internet access. You may have to queue for the Internet, since there are only a few machines. Chinoy Express, Rua dos Mercadores. Serves cheap snacks and right across the road is a Filipino bakery with cheap and tasty breads. Unlike in mainland China, the internet is not censored in Macau; all web-sites are accessible. Postage stamps from mainland China or Hong Kong cannot be used to send mail from Macau and vice versa. Macau has excellent mobile phone coverage. If you are starting in Macau and plan on continuing elsewhere, Three and CTM offer SIMs with discounted data roaming in HK and the mainland and do not censor data when used in the mainland. Since 22 December, , upon buying SIM cards, including pre-paid SIM cards, you must register your name to your operator in order to activate the card. There are some consulates in Macau, which are mostly Portuguese-speaking countries, although your country is more likely to be served through its consulate in Hong Kong. The Chinese visa office only issues visas to residents of Macau; you cannot apply for a Chinese visa in Macau if you are only visiting as a tourist. Districts \[ edit \]. With beautiful architecture and plenty of casinos, it is the center of local life and most tourist activity in Macau. It is a major residential center and is the location of Macau's International Airport. It does have a charming old village area, two beaches, several hiking trails and a resort. It is also the location of Macau's first golf course; a second one is on the Cotai Strip. Understand \[ edit \]. Geography \[ edit \]. History \[ edit \]. People \[ edit \]. Culture \[ edit \]. Read \[ edit \]. Visitor information \[ edit \]. Talk \[ edit \]. Get in \[ edit \]. Visa-free - 1 year Hong Kong if entering with Hong Kong permanent identity card. Visa-free - 6 months UK. Visa-free - 90 days. Visa-free - 14 days. Visa on arrival. Visa required in advance Visa on arrival ineligible. Entry requirements \[ edit \]. By boat \[ edit \]. From Hong Kong \[ edit \]. From Mainland China \[ edit \]. By bus \[ edit \]. By plane \[ edit \]. By car \[ edit \]. By train \[ edit \]. On foot \[ edit \]. By helicopter \[ edit \]. Get around \[ edit \]. By light rail \[ edit \]. By scooter \[ edit \]. By shuttle bus \[ edit \]. By taxi \[ edit \]. By cycle rickshaw \[ edit \]. See \[ edit \]. Heritage \[ edit \]. Museums \[ edit \]. Animals \[ edit \]. Do \[ edit \]. Casinos \[ edit \]. Shows \[ edit \]. Adventure activities \[ edit \]. Swimming \[ edit \]. Hiking and cycling \[ edit \]. Bowling \[ edit \]. Buy \[ edit \]. Money \[ edit \]. Banking \[ edit \]. Tipping \[ edit \]. Shopping \[ edit \]. Eat \[ edit \]. Drink \[ edit \]. Sleep \[ edit \]. Learn \[ edit \]. Work \[ edit \]. Stay safe \[ edit \]. Law enforcement \[ edit \]. Crime \[ edit \]. Legal matters \[ edit \]. Gambling \[ edit \]. Severe weather \[ edit \]. Stay healthy \[ edit \]. Respect \[ edit \]. Business \[ edit \]. Religion \[ edit \]. Connect \[ edit \]. By post \[ edit \]. Mobile phones \[ edit \]. Cope \[ edit \]. Consulates \[ edit \]. Go next \[ edit \]. This city travel guide to Macau has guide status. It has a variety of good, quality information including hotels, restaurants, attractions and travel details. Please contribute and help us make it a star! Namespaces Page Discussion. Views Read Edit View history. Main page Travel destinations Star articles What's Nearby? Tourist office Random page. Country code. Time zone. Average max. Source: w:Macau Climate. Imperial conversion J. Vong or Wong?

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