Macau Articles

Macau Casino Revenues Collapse

JAMES PACKER'S Macau casino joint venture and the poker machine maker Aristocrat Leisure have been hit by further headwinds with gaming revenues in the territory falling for the third consecutive quarter.

Problems Mount For Packer In Macau

JAMES PACKER'S Macau casino joint venture has forced hundreds of staff to take as much as six months unpaid leave amid a downturn in the world's largest casino market.

Tables Turn On Crown's Macau Venture

JAMES PACKER'S Macau casino joint venture is on a losing streak, struggling more than its rivals to cope with the downturn in the world's largest casino market.

24 Hours In Macau

A seamless blend of Portuguese and Cantonese influences characterises Macau, one of China's special administration regions. With a dash of Las Vegas added to the mix, East meets West in the most tantalising combination.

Chips Are Down At Crown Macau

JAMES Packer's Crown Ltd has been hit by a fall in the amount of cash gambled at its flagship Macau casino in the pasttwo months, according to the company that provides its VIP gamblers.

Macau

Macau is a special administrative region of China. As a special administrative region, Macau is still part of China, though it has its own government.

Geography and climate of Macau

Macau is located in the southern part of Guangdong Province. This peninsula borders the South China Sea and China. It is located 60 kilometres southwest of Hongkong and has a land area of 29.2 square kilometres. Generally, Macau has flat terrains, although there are some areas of steep hills. The climate in this area is subtropical, meaning, the place has cool winters and warm summers.

History and name derivation of Macau

The earliest native inhabitants of Macau called the place Haojing, which means "Oyster Mirror" or Jinghai, meaning "Mirror Sea". The name "Macau" was derived from Templo de A-Ma, built in 1448 for the goddess of seafarers, Matsu. It was said that when the first group of Portuguese came into this place and asked the name of the area, the natives answered "A-Ma-Gao", which means "Bay of A-ma". The Portuguese then called the place Macau.

The Portuguese established settlement in Macau in 1557 until it became a Portuguese colony for over 400 years. It was only handed back to China in 1999, making Macau the last European territory in Asia.

Economy of Macau

Macau's economy is dependent on its textile and garment manufacturing industries. Other important contributors to Macau's economy are finance services and tourism.

Tourist destinations in Macau

The following are some of the interesting places to visit in Macau:

* Ma Kok Miu Temple - This temple is dedicated to the goddess of the seafarers A-Ma. This temple was said to have been built during the Ming Dynasty and stands as the oldest temple in Macau. Ma Kok Miu Temple contains interesting ancient artifacts such as the relief stone sculpture of Chinese junk.

* Macao Tower - This tower stands 338 metres high, making it the tallest structure in Macau. It is the eighth tallest structure in Asia and the tenth tallest tower in the whole world. Macao Tower is ideal for those who are seeking extreme sports and adventure. Some of the popular sports activities in Macao Towers are bungee jumps and mast climb.

* Guia Fortress - This is a historical military fortress that also served as a lighthouse and a chapel during the colonisation of Portuguese. This fortress was built between 1622 and 1638. Guia Fortress is located on the highest hill in Macau, the Guia Hill.

Festivals in Macau

Aside from the historical places in Macau, there are also various festivals that make the place an ideal destination for tourists. One of Macau's popular festivals is the A-Ma Festival. During this festival, offerings are made for the goddess of the seafarers A-Ma. There are performances held during this festival. Another famous celebration is the Macao Arts Festival, which features art exhibits, concerts, operas and dance performances. The Macao Grand Prix is also famous as an annual street circuit racing event for both cars and motorcycles.