Macau was formerly a Portuguese colony and was the last remaining European colony in Asia until it was fully awarded back to the People's Republic of China only in 1999. In 2006 Macau has become the world's largest gambling center and earlier in 2002, one of the world's richest cities. As one of two special administrative regions of China, its economy is heavily dependent on gambling and tourism.
We visited Macau on its pre-summer of 2010, with the weather being a little hot during the day but with thunderstorms occurring in the afternoon. The nights were chilly though, there was a nice breeze.
What we loved about Macau is that it is a small region, so the places of interest were close together. It is also easy to get around even at night because the transportation system is quite effective. We were rarely greeted by traffic or full buses. Taxis were abundant as well.
Expect to communicate via gestures and sign languages with locals though, unless you are fluent in Mandarin. There are not many locals who communicate well with English, but since there were lots of tourists like us, we were able to ask around. The hotel was very good with giving directions as well. However, do get a business card from your hotel's front desk so you can show it to the taxi driver if you take one going back to the hotel.
An important piece of advice I can give you though is to research in advance what buses ply the routes of your destinations. It will make your commute so much easier rather than relying on asking around. I believe there are maps available in the airport and ferry terminal so make sure to get these. They are free of charge anyway. Oh, and another thing. Always bring your passport along because they do random checks on civilians if you have the proper papers.
I fell in love with Macau's architecture and nightscapes. Food was good as well, and for a small region, there were a lot of places of interest. More on those below.
We visited Macau on its pre-summer of 2010, with the weather being a little hot during the day but with thunderstorms occurring in the afternoon. The nights were chilly though, there was a nice breeze.
What we loved about Macau is that it is a small region, so the places of interest were close together. It is also easy to get around even at night because the transportation system is quite effective. We were rarely greeted by traffic or full buses. Taxis were abundant as well.
Expect to communicate via gestures and sign languages with locals though, unless you are fluent in Mandarin. There are not many locals who communicate well with English, but since there were lots of tourists like us, we were able to ask around. The hotel was very good with giving directions as well. However, do get a business card from your hotel's front desk so you can show it to the taxi driver if you take one going back to the hotel.
An important piece of advice I can give you though is to research in advance what buses ply the routes of your destinations. It will make your commute so much easier rather than relying on asking around. I believe there are maps available in the airport and ferry terminal so make sure to get these. They are free of charge anyway. Oh, and another thing. Always bring your passport along because they do random checks on civilians if you have the proper papers.
I fell in love with Macau's architecture and nightscapes. Food was good as well, and for a small region, there were a lot of places of interest. More on those below.
MUST DO in Macau:
1. Experience the buffet at 360 Cafe atop the Macau Tower. The rotating restaurant has a wide selection of dishes, not to mention a breathtaking view.
2. Go out at night even if you do not hang out in casinos. The city lights are gorgeous. The breeze is nice too.
3. Visit The Venetian Macau. You will be amazed at its architecture and hand-painted ceiling. Should you wish to, ride the gondola and be serenaded by your own gondolero.
4. Visit St. Paul Cathedral's Ruins and take time to read its history. The cathedral burned down but amazingly, its facade withstood the fire.
5. See the Portuguese architectural influence in Senado Square.
6. Visit A-Ma Temple. A-Ma-Gau or Place of A-Ma is how Macau derived its name from. A-Ma is the goddess of seafarers.
7. Include Guia Fortress in your itinerary. Historically, it was used as a defensive military base before it was converted to a tourist attraction.
1. Experience the buffet at 360 Cafe atop the Macau Tower. The rotating restaurant has a wide selection of dishes, not to mention a breathtaking view.
2. Go out at night even if you do not hang out in casinos. The city lights are gorgeous. The breeze is nice too.
3. Visit The Venetian Macau. You will be amazed at its architecture and hand-painted ceiling. Should you wish to, ride the gondola and be serenaded by your own gondolero.
4. Visit St. Paul Cathedral's Ruins and take time to read its history. The cathedral burned down but amazingly, its facade withstood the fire.
5. See the Portuguese architectural influence in Senado Square.
6. Visit A-Ma Temple. A-Ma-Gau or Place of A-Ma is how Macau derived its name from. A-Ma is the goddess of seafarers.
7. Include Guia Fortress in your itinerary. Historically, it was used as a defensive military base before it was converted to a tourist attraction.