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Home > Travel China > China Destinations > Macau
Macau
China is located in Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam. It has an extremely diverse climate, tropical in south to subarctic in north. It is world's fourth largest country after Russia, Canada, and US. Beijing is the capital of China. It has 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities.
Macau is a small territory on the southern coast of the People's Republic of China. Administered by Portugal until 1999, it was the oldest European colony in China, dating back to the 16th century. The administrative power over Macau was transferred to the People's Republic of China PRC, in 1999, and it is now one of two special administrative regions of the PRC, together with Hong Kong.
Macau is 70 kilometres southwest of Hong Kong and 145 kilometres from Guangzhou. According to the 2006 census, population is 503,000 and density is 17,310 per square kilometers. It consists of a peninsula, and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. Macau is located on the northern fringe of the sub-tropical zone. Seasonal climate is greatly influenced by the monsoon.
Macau's biggest attraction is its gambling industry and casinos. Though many forms of gambling are legal here, the most popular game is baccarat, which generates over two thirds of the gaming industry's gross receipts.
Macau's economy is based largely on tourism, namely gambling. Other chief economic activities are export-geared textile and garment manufacturing, banking and other financial services. Macau in 2006, gambling revenues from Macau's casinos were for the first time greater than those of Las Vegas, making Macau one of the highest-volume gambling centres in the world.
Most Macau people believe in the Chinese Folk religion, which includes the faiths of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and the folk gods and goddesses, like other Chinese communities. There are between forty and fifty temples of various sizes in Macau, mostly built a century or so ago, although some date back five-hundred years. The Catholic Church in Macau recognizes the Pope as the head of the Church. A new Coadjutor Bishop for the Macau diocese was appointed by Vatican or Holy See in June, 2003.
In Macau visitors will find an efficient bus service, not only in the city but also on the islands. Visitors can look for the destinations, itineraries and stops in the information panels located at every bus stop. There are plenty of taxis services.
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