Macau is a fantastic city of China and is
a great place of tourist interest. It is located on the southeastern coast
of China and is a very small city that can be easily covered by walking. So
one could walk to almost all of its sights and spots of tourist interest in
one single day (the entire territory covering 7 sq mi/17 sq km). The city is
marked by the hilly winding streets and the back alleys and possesses
buildings with European-style architecture and plazas but has retained its
oriental charm and simplicity.
The most famous landmark in the city is the Church of Sao Paulo (circa
1600). Its disheartening that most of the church was destroyed by fire in
1835 and what is seen today is just a part of the original structure.
Further on, another set of stairs leads to the Citadel of Sao Paulo do Monte
where one can still see the cannon that helped repel the Dutch invasion of
1622. The view of the city and countryside is fantastic from here.
Fact File
Country : China
Population : 445,286
Area : 25.4 km2
Languages : Chinese (Cantonese), Portuguese, English
Climate : The climate is moderate to hot, with an average annual
temperature of just over 20°C (68°F) and a yearly mean variation
between 16°C (50°F) and 25°C (77°F). The humidity is
high with an average range between 75% and 90%. Rainfall is also high with
the yearly total between 40 and 80 inches. The best season is autumn
(October - December) when days are sunny and warm and the humidity is low.
Official Currency : Chinese Yuan(CY) ; 1 CY = 5.2633 Indian Rupee =
0.1203 US $ = 0.1001 Euro (subject to change).
Location
: Macau is located on the southeastern coast of China, at latitude 22°
14' North and longitude 113° 35' East. The territory comprises a
peninsula and two islands in the Pearl River delta of Guangdong Province.
Getting There
By Air : Macau International Airport is linked by scheduled air
services to Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, Kaohsiung,
Kuala Lumpur, Lisbon, Pyongyang, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and
other cities in China including Chongqing, Changsha, Dalian, Fuzhou, Hainan,
Qingdao, Shenyang, Xi'AN, Xiamen, Yantai and Wenzhou. It is situated at a
distance of 6 km from the city.
Getting Around
By Road : Air-conditioned bus or minibus are the most easily
available and convenient way to see the city. Metered Taxis are another way
to move around in the city. Three-wheeled pedicabs known as triciclos can be
more expensive than the taxis, plus they're slow-moving and restricted to
touring the waterfront.
Accommodation
The city has very good hotels to ensure a comfortable stay for the
tourists. Mentioned below is a list of some of the hotels in the city:
5 star hotels in the city:
The Westin Resort
Hotels Kingsway
Hotel Fortuna
4 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Holiday Inn
Hotel Lisboa
Major Tourist attractions
Largo
do Senado : Beautiful tiles in swirling waves cover the Largo do Senado
(Senate Square), which provides the city's focal point and is the start of
most people's exploration of Macau. From here one can see the colonial
architecture displayed in buildings like the impressive Leal Senado, the
Santa Casa da Misericordia, and finally Sao Domingos Church.
A-Ma Temple : The name Macau was taken from A-Ma-Gao (Bay of A-Ma)
where this temple is located. Legend has it that A-Ma was a poor girl
travelling to China, but was turned away by wealthy junk owners. Finally, a
fisherman took her to Macau, withstanding a storm that sunk all the other
junks. Later, she reappeared to the fisherman as a goddess and so he built
here this temple. Situated on the southern tip of Macau, the temple has a
friendly, relaxing environment.
Hac Sa Beach : Hac Sa meaning black sand, and the sand at this beach
is indeed an intriguing deep grey colour. Longer than the Cheoc Van Beach,
this beach is also Macau's most loved beach and provides various
recreational facilities for the beach combers.
Sun Yat Sen Park : The park has been named after Sun Yat Sen, who
was the founder of the Chinese Republic. It houses the aviary, greenhouse,
Fung Shui forest, swimming pool, playground and sports fields which provide
plenty of entertainment to the visitors. The park also houses a bronze
sculpture named "Permanent Handshake", celebrating Sino-Portuguese
friendship.
Other Attractions :
Guia Fort and Lighthouse
Museum of Macau
Sao Domingos Church
Macau Golf & Country Club
