Macau Facts

Macau is small. That is an inescapable fact. Made up of a peninsula and two islands, the area covered by the territory is a mere 250 hectares (5800 acres). So do not blink, or you might miss something!

Macau's three islands were originally separate, there is now a two and a half-kilometer (one and a half-mile) long bridge and highway to link the three regions together. Macao might be small, but it is well-developed in the tourism industry, has numerous parks and attractions that cater to the millions of visitors each year.

Macau Peninsula

Historically, culturally and economically, the peninsula is where it is happening. Its central focus is the busy Largo do Senado. This very Mediterranean...

...covers all of 28.6 sq. km (11.4 sq. miles). About 64km (40 miles) west of Hong Kong across the Pearl River Estuary, it served as Portugal's last holdout in Asia until 1999, when it was handed back to China. Portugal's other former Asian strongholds, Goa and Malacca, had long before been claimed by neighboring powers.

With its unique mixture of Portuguese and Chinese cultures, Macau makes an interesting day trip or overnight stay if you want to get away from the bustle of Hong Kong. Although Macau's rising reputation as a gambling and shopping mecca -- spurred by the grand openings of ever larger and grander casinos with equally ostentatious shopping malls -- is a major attraction for many,...