Macau Tourist Information

Macau, also spelled as Macao, is located along the southern coast of China, about 70 kilometers from Hong Kong.

Macau used to be a Portuguese colony. It is the oldest European settlement in China, serving for 400 years as a gateway for cultural exchange between the East and West. Fusing cultures from Asia and Europe, this fascinating territory was handed back to the People's Republic of China in 1999, by the Portuguese government.

Macau tourists will immediately notice the contrast of colonial structures and homes next to intricate Buddhist temples and other ancient buildings. The streets of Macau tend to be narrow and the best way to get around is on foot.

Macau is small - about 11 square miles - but has one of the densest populations in the world.

As the number of visitors to Macau increase, so do the number of resorts and casinos in the area including the Wynn Resort Macau, the MGM Grand Macau, the Sands Macau and the Venetian Macau.

The Cotai Strip in particular is the site of a growing number of Macau resorts, Macau hotels and Macau casinos. The Cotai Strip is a stretch of land about 1.8 miles in length, adjoining two of Macau's islands, and looks to be the Las Vegas of Asia. In its initial stages, the Cotai Strip will feature 7 resort casinos and offer more than 10,000 guest rooms. Following stages are likely to bring even more resorts, casinos and hotels.

In addition to gambling and excellent resorts, Macau is also known for the excellent beaches and other attractions the city has to offer. Racetracks featuring horse races are featured most weekends throughout the summer. Greyhound races can also be found at the racetracks. Along with animal racing, car races and fireworks displays are featured in the city, along with the Macau Grand Prix.

Shopping is also a popular attraction to Macau. Since Macau is a duty-free port, foreigners have long come to Macau to find the best deals on their favorite products. Jewelry is a particular favorite among travelers, as is the wide selection of inexpensive and excellent Portuguese wine. A number of clothing boutiques have also popped up in recent years as the tourism population of Macau increases.

Here are more things to know about Macau:

• Map
• History
• Things to do
• Transportation