A Brief Description Macau (or Macao), about 60 km directly west of Hong Kong, consists of the Macau Peninsula (attached to mainland China) and the small islands of Taipa and Coloane; all connected by bridge or causeway. Once a simple fishing village on the southeastern China coastline, it was colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, and became the first European settlement in the Far East. Because of its geographic position and excellent inland port, it quickly became a vital base for regional merchants, and for international commerce between China and the western world. In December of 1999, Portugal (via a long-standing agreement) officially returned control of Macau to China, and it became a Special Administrative Region (or SAR) of China. In the exchange, China agreed that until 2037, Macau (as is), will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters, except foreign and defense. In the middle of its skyscrapers and modern facade sits the Historic Center of Macau, a "World Heritage Site," that includes several fortresses, an ancient palace, historic buildings and churches, monuments and friendly urban squares. Combine all of that with a wide variety of nitelife options, restaurants and casinos, and you've got a major tourist attraction that's growing in popularity, Learn more about Macau here Facts and Figures Name Macau (long form) Macau SAR Population 450,000 Population & Density (all countries) here Capital City None, as Macau is a Special Administrative "Region" of China Currency Pataca (MOP) Currency Converter here Languages Cantonese (88%), Hokkien, others Flag here National Day October 1 Religions Buddhist (50%), Catholic (15%), others Bridge from Macau to Mainland China Travel the World through Poster Art! Geographic Coordinates Latitude/Longitude (Macau) 22º 12' N, 113º 33' E Relative Location Macau is located in both the eastern and northern hemispheres. It's positioned in Asia, along the southeast coast of mainland China in the Guangdong Province. It's bordered by the South China Sea, and of course, the country of China. Land Statistics Coastline 25 miles (41 km) Land Areas (land) 9.8 sq miles (25.4 sq km) (water) 0 sq miles (0 sq km) (TOTAL) 9.8 sq miles (25.4 sq km) Land Area (all countries) here Landforms The Macau Peninsula, gradually formed by the Pearl River and West River estuaries, and by land reclamation, is mostly flat land, but there are a few elevated spots. Some steep, rolling hills are located on the island of Coloane, and along the southern coastline of the island of Taipa. Highest Point Coloane Alto - 567 ft. (173 m) Lowest Point South China Sea - 0 ft. (0 m) Land Divisions None Dragon dance on a street in Macau

Maps Macau (large color) Map here Macau Outline Map here Macau CIA version here Macau Maps at UT here China (large color) Map here China Outline Map here China CIA version here China Maps at UT here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Asia Continent (printable) here Asia Outline Map here Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Indian Subcontinent Map here Middle East Landforms here Middle East Map here Middle East Outline Map here Middle East Rivers here Tsunami Map (December 2004) here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Outline Maps (printable) here World Time Zone Map here Recommended Links Macau (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here! Macau Photos here Macau Tourism here Macau Tourist Guide here Macau Virtual Tour here Macau to Hong Kong Ferry Service here Inside China (news) here China the Beautiful here China Photos at TrekEarth.com here China Tour here Travel China here Time and Weather Time Zone (UTC +8) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Conversion details and additional info here Climate Macau weather in spring and summer (May through September) brings hot and humid days, with some rain. Fall conditions are considered ideal as the weather is usually warm and sunny. Winters are milder, but cooler and cloudy; drizzly days are commonplace. Traveler Info Attractions The collective uniqueness of Macau is its major asset, as its Portuguese and Chinese cultures, the (old) boat-building yards, mansions and temples, and the (modern) beach resorts, casinos and restaurants blend together to offer a wide variety of interesting things to see and do for any traveler. Major attractions include the Ruins of St. Paul's and the St. Paul's Museum; Monte Fort; the Cybernetic Fountain and its 292 water jets; A-Ma Temple; Kun lam Temple; Lin Fung Temple; Camoes Garden and Grotto, and the historic city center - to name but a few. Dialing Code 86, +853 Electricity Macau uses 220 volts AC (50 Hz) Electrical adapters, products and tips here Travel Warnings here Visa Information here

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Patrick Kennedy's World Currency Homepage
This page created by: Patrick Kennedy
Creation date: March 2007
Last update: 18 November 2009
URL: http://www.patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/macao.html