Macau - China

When you hear the word Gambling normaly you think of Las Vegas. Well not anymore! Macau in China is the new destination for people who believe in their luck.

Macau is a Special Administrative Region of China and one of the world's most densely populated spots. Macau lies on the western side of the Pearl River Delta across from Hong Kong, which is about 64 kilometers to the east, and it is also bordered by Guangdong to the north and the South China Sea to the east and south.Macau has an estimated population of around 636,200 living in an area of 30.3 km2. Until 1999 Macau was an overseas territory of Portugal.

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.

Those are :

*Macau Peninsula, the northern most region connected to the Chinese mainland. It is the center of most tourist activity and is densely crowded.

*Taipa, the island south of the peninsula, accessible via three bridges. It is a major residential center and is the location of Macau's International Airport.

*Cotai, a strip of reclaimed land between Coloane and Taipa, with vast new casinos rising up.

*Coloane,the most southern island, it is considerably less developed than the other regions due to its mountainous terrain. It does have two beaches, several hiking trails and a resort. It is also the location of Macau's first golf course.

Macau's official languages are Cantonese and Portuguese. Mandarin is becoming more widely spoken, and most locals are able to comprehend it to some degree.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.

Althought Macau is best known for gambling it is also 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. 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.

Find more photos and details in my photo gallery, if you need more information you can contact me and if you are looking for the best way to go to Macau and try your luck then just answer 5 simple questions in my secret section, fill in the form and let's Gamble.