The first settlers to the area were fishermen. The orignial settlement was known
as Ou Mun which means the "trading gate" due to its position near the mouth
of the Pearl River, an important link in the silk trade and other goods.
Even after the silk trade routes lost their importance
the area kept its importance through Portuguese merchant expolrers who choose to
make this area their home away from home.
By the mid 16th century the Chinese had granted permission for the Purtogese to
build a city at the site that was the Ou Mun fishermen settlement. Called "A Ma
Gao" by the locals the name eventually changes to Macau which was much easier for
the new arriving settlers to pronounce. A rental arrangement for the land was agreed upon, and
in return the Portuguese promised to rid the area of pirates. Chinese
merchants were forbidden to go abroad, and they eagerly embraced the opportunity
to hire the Portuguese as agents. The Portuguese got rid of the pirates and within
a short time the city grew to become a major trading port facilitating trade between
India, China, Japan and Europe. The wealth generated by Portugal's monopoly on trade
between China and Japan was invested back in Macau to create a home away from home. With the increase
of European influence missionaries built up many churches and fortresses giving
the city a very european feel which can be seen today aswell.
For more than a century the Chinese gave the protugese a monopoly on trade so
traders from other countries had no choice but to rent space and fine homes from the Portugese. Macau
became a destination where traders could stop relax and enjoy in recreational fun
with all the luxrious possible.
All this came to a halt when the British were granted permission to establish Hong
Kong in 1841. Offering deeper waters where larger ships can dock trade shifted to
Hong Kong leaving Macau a quieter place to have good time and relax.
Lack of trade ment Macau's economic was going down hill but this was forever eased by the introduction of licensed gambling
in the 1850s.
Portugal made several moves during the 20th century to divest itself of its Far
Eastern territory but China didn't seem interested, perhaps fearing a loss of foreign
trade. When Britain and China signed the Hong Kong Joint Declaration in 1984, however,
it was inevitable that China would seek a similar agreement with Portugal. The Sino-Portuguese
Pact was signed in March 1987, which lead-up to the handover of Macau back to China
on 20 December 1999.
Macau is now a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China.
In accordance with China's "one country, two systems" formula, it retains a high
degree of autonomy in all matters other than defence and foreign affairs, keeping
its former laws and economic system for a period of 50 years from the handover.
Macau maintains its own separate currency, customs territory, immigration and border
controls, and police force. Macau is an offshore financial centre, a tax haven,
and a free port with no foreign exchange control regimes.
Macau has developed a solid industrial base in textile, electronics and toys. Now
with the recent tourism boom it also has solid tourism infrasturcture inclduing
many hotels, casinos, restaurans, sport activities, entertainment and much more.
Still Macau's economy is very closely linked to Hong Kong.
Macau formerly a fishing village and a trading post has now evolved into
an important touristic and international commerce point. With new
casinos and hotels popping up like mushrooms after the rain Macau
has seen an unprecendented rate of growth in tourism and gambling and keeps growing
in size with many visitors coming to try their luck at the casino tables.
Macau has plenty to offer including mouth watering cuisines, shop bargains and lots
of outdoor activities. Macau offers two different sides. The old, including ancient Buddhist
temples, Chinese shop houses and churches and fortresses built by the Portuguese. The new booming
hotel and casino industry. The "Las Vegas of the East".
• The total area of Macau is 26.8 km2-the peninsula has 8.5 km2, Taipa 6.2 km2,
•
Coloane 7.6 km2 and the reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane has 4.5 km2.
• Macau is located on Chin'a southern coast on the Pearl Rivers west bank.
• Macau is around 35 miles from Hong Kong and less than 90 miles from the
• city of
Guangzhou.
• Macau's population is mostly chinese with a small percent of Portugues.
• Macau is the most densely populated region in the world.
• Both Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese are Macau's official languages.
• Population: approximately 470 thousand people in Macau (Chinese 95%,
• Portuguese
and others 5%)
• Macau is eight hours ahead of GMT.
• Macau is the first and last European colony in China.
• There is a complete freedom of worship in Macau. The main religions are Buddhism,
• Catholicism and Protestantism.
• Macau is built on a peninsula. There are two bridges of 2.5 km and 4.5 km respectively
that link it to
• its nearest island of Taipa, which in turn
is joined to Coloane by a 2.2 km-long causeway. At the
• northern end of the peninsula is the imposing
gateway (Portas do Cerco, or Border Gate), this
• gateway leads to the Zhongshan and Zhuhai
areas of China.
• Macau Peninsula was originally an island, but a connecting sandbar gradually turned
into a narrow
• connection to land, therefor changing Macau
into a peninsula. Land reclamation in the 17th century
• changed Macau into a peninsula with a mostly
flat terrain, although numerous hills can still be seen
• to mark the original land mass. With a dense
urban environment, Macau has no arable land,
• pastures, woodland, or forests.