Destination Hong Kong
Macau
Macau is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China since 20 December 1999, and, like Hong Kong, benefits from 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. The greatest of these continues to be Macau’s unique society, with communities from the East and West complementing each other, and the many people who come to visit.
Sixty kilometres west across the Pearl River estuary from Hong Kong lies the former Portuguese enclave of Macau. Occupying a peninsula and a couple of islands of just twenty-six square kilometres in extent, Macau’s unique atmosphere has been unmistakeably shaped by a colonial past – predating Hong Kong’s by nearly three hundred years – which has left old fortresses, Baroque churches, faded mansions, public squares, unusual food and Portuguese place names in its wake. As a place to play rather than do business, Macau is also decidedly laid-back compared with Hong Kong, but what really defines the territory are Macau’s abundant casinos, the only place in China where they have been legalized. The colossal gambling income generated is currently funding a local economic boom, with the ongoing construction of high-rise hotels, flyovers, bridges and large-scale land reclamation, all forever changing Macau’s appearance.
Considering that costs are a good deal, and the ease of travel between Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau, it’s a great pity not to drop in on the territory if you are in the region. A day-trip from Hong Kong is possible, though you really need a couple of nights to do the place justice.
The Macau currency is the pataca (abbreviated to “MOP$” in this book; also written as “M$” and “ptca”). HK dollars are freely accepted as currency in Macau, and a lot of visitors from Hong Kong don’t bother changing money at all.
