 Macau is designated a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China, and maintains a status similar to that of Hong Kong. Located on China’s southern coast on the western bank of the Pearl River, Macau borders Guangdong province. Macau is around 35 miles from Hong Kong, and less than 90 miles from the city of Guangzhou.
The territory is noted as being both the first and last European colony in China and the impact of the colonisation is evident in the architecture here, even more so than in Hong Kong. Strolling through the streets of the old city, you can easily convince yourself that you are somewhere in Europe. Although the population here are mostly Chinese, there is still a small percentage of Portuguese.
Macau clearly offers two different faces. There’s the old, quaint and sometimes crumbling architecture of the past including ancient Buddhist temples, Chinese shop houses and churches and fortresses built by the Portuguese. Then there’s the booming casino industry and the glitter of the ‘Las Vegas of the East’.
This former fishing village turned trading port continues to grow in importance in the areas of international commerce and tourism. New mega-casinos are opening at an unprecedented rate, attracting ever-increasing numbers of visitors who like to gamble. Others come to enjoy the other attractions that Macau has to offer, including historic sights, mouth-watering array of cuisines, shopping bargains and a wealth of outdoor activities.
History
The first known settlers on the western bank of the Pearl River were fishermen who came from Fujian and farmers from Guangdong. At that time, the settlement was known as Ou Mun (meaning ‘trading gate’), owing to its position near the mouth of the river, downstream from Guangzhou. In ancient times, Guangzhou was an important link in the silk trade: ships were loaded with goods here en route to Rome.
Even as the Silk Road trade routes diminished in importance, Guangzhou continued to prosper from sea trade with Southeast Asian countries. The local business community welcomed Portuguese merchant-explorers to help enhance the development of trade.
By the mid-16th century, the Portuguese had been granted permission to establish a city at the site of the Ou Mun settlement, called A Ma Gao by the residents. The name gradually changed to Macau, largely due to the difficulty the new settlers had in pronouncing the Chinese name. In a relatively short time, the new city became a major trading port, facilitating commerce between China and India, Japan and Europe.
Given its role in international trade, Macau became a meeting point of Western and Eastern cultures. European influence increased with the presence of missionaries sent by the Roman Catholic Church, such as St Francis Xavier. The missionaries founded a Christian college where students prepared to become scholars at the Imperial Court in Beijing. Many churches were built, as were fortresses, giving Macau a European appearance – elements of which can be seen today.
 The ‘golden age’ of Portugal's dominance in Asia faded as the British and Dutch became more dominant in trade. The Chinese however made a decision to continue conducting business with the Portuguese in Macau. For more than a century, the British and Dutch merchant companies rented commercial space in elegant homes from the Portuguese.
As China’s trade with various European powers grew, merchants from around Europe would spent a part of their year in Guangzhou, where they would buy tea and other Chinese luxuries at trade fairs as well as enjoy recreation and relaxation in Macau.
When Hong Kong was established by Britain 1841, following the first Anglo-Chinese War, most foreign merchants left Macau to relocate in Hong Kong. With this exodus, Macau became a quieter place and took on a quaint and leisurely, albeit multicultural, atmosphere. It was soon a favourite stopover for artists, writers and travellers from around the world.
In more recent times, Macau has developed an industrial base in electronics, textiles and toys. It also has a solid tourism infrastructure comprising hotels and resorts, casinos, restaurants and sports facilities. Macau's economy continues to be closely linked with that of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta area of Guangdong province. Macau’s support to this area includes banking and financial services, staff training and development programmes, and communications and transportation support.
Macau continues to grow in size, with new buildings being constructed on land reclaimed from the sea. The gambling industry has also gained in importance. The territory is becoming an increasingly popular destination for visitors who are curious about its blend of Eastern and Western cultures s well as others who want to try their luck at the casino tables.
Weather
Macau borders with the south of China and sits on the South China Sea coast. Just south of the Tropic of Cancer, its geographical position contributes significantly to its climate and weather conditions. Winters tend to be on the cold side and summers are typically mild and rainy. The most favourable weather occurs from mid-October through early December.
The winter season spans January and February, when cold dry winds from the north along with the year’s lowest temperatures keep many tourists away. During March and April, the wind shifts to an easterly direction, bringing an increase in temperature and humidity. Macau sometimes experience occasional showers and fog at this time, but otherwise the spring weather is pleasant.
The summer in Macau runs from May to October and is a time when tropical cyclones bring high temperatures, significant rain and thunderstorms. Autumn follows at the end of the rainy season; a short period characterised by cool, dry weather. The cool weather also affects the month of November, followed by even colder air from the mainland by mid-December.
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