澳門特別行政區 Região Administrativa Especial de Macau Macau Special Administrative Region
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: March of the Volunteers
Largest freguesia (population)		Freguesia de Nossa Senhora de Fátima
Official languages		Portuguese, Chinese, Cantonese, [1]
Demonym		Macanese
Government
-	Chief Executive	Edmund Ho Hau-wah
Establishment
-	Portugal-administered trading post	1557
-	Portuguese colony	December 1, 1887
-	Transfer of sovereignty to the PRC	December 20, 1999
Area
-	Total	28.6 km² (not ranked) 11. The Regional flag of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( is light green with a lotus flower above the stylized The current devised Emblem came into use in 20 December 1999, when the Sovereignty of Macau was transferred from Portugal to A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's March of the Volunteers ( is the National anthem of the People's Republic of China (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since Macau 's population is 95% Chinese, primarily Cantonese and some Hakka, both from nearby Guangdong Province Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Freguesia de Nossa Senhora de Fátima is the northernmost and largest Freguesia in Macau Peninsula, Macau. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Macanese ( "people of Macau" can be a general term for the residents or natives of Macau, a special administrative region of the People's Republic For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The Chief Executive ( of Macau is the head of the government of Macau, a Special administrative region of the People's Republic of China and Education After completing his primary education Ho went to study in Canada in 1969 Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The transfer of sovereignty of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China (PRC occurred on December 20, Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions  Areas between 10000 km² and 100000 km² are listed here This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. 04 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0
Population
-	2007 (1st qtr) estimate	520,400[2] (167th)
-	2000 census	431,000
-	Density	17,310/km² (1st) 44,784/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2006 estimate
-	Total	US$17,600 m (99th)
GDP (nominal)		2007 estimate
-	Total	US$15,997 m (94th)
-	Per capita	US$36,357[3]
HDI (2004)		▬0. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation PLEASE NO RANDOM FIGURES THERE ARE NO FIGURES BASED ON NATIONAL STATISTICS IN THIS ARTICLE Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 909[4] (high) (25th)
Currency		Macanese pataca (MOP)
Time zone		MST (UTC+8)
Internet TLD		.mo
Calling code		+853

The Macau Special Administrative Region, commonly known as Macau or Macao (IPA: /mækaʊ/, traditional Chinese: 澳門; simplified Chinese: 澳门; pinyin: Aòmén; jyutping: ou3 mun4), is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, the other being Hong Kong. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The pataca ( ISO 4217 code MOP) is the currency of Macau. It is subdivided into 100 avos ( Cantonese: 仙 sin) ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Macau Standard Time ( is the time in Macau. The time is UTC+8 all year round and Daylight saving time is not applied A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Jyutping (sometimes spelled Jyutpin) is a Romanization system for Standard Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (LSHK A Special Administrative Region ( SAR) is a high autonomous administrative division of the People's Republic of China. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Macau lies on the western side of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong province in the north and facing the South China Sea in the east and south. The Pearl River Delta Region (PRD ( in southern China occupies the low-lying areas alongside the Pearl River Estuary Guangdong ( EFEO: Kouangtong; Pinyin Guǎngdōng; Postal map spelling: Kwangtung) is a province on the The South China Sea is a Marginal sea south of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the ^[5] The territory has thriving industries such as textiles, electronics and toys, and a notable tourist industry that boasts a wide range of hotels, resorts, stadiums, restaurants and casinos. ^[6]

Macau was both the first and the last European colony in China. ^[7][8] Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 16th century and subsequently administered the region until the handover on December 20, 1999. The transfer of sovereignty of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China (PRC occurred on December 20, The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Macau stipulate that Macau operates with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2049, fifty years after the transfer. The Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau was an important Treaty between Portugal and the People's Republic of China over the status of The Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is the Constitution of Macau, replacing the Estatuto Orgânico de Macau An autonomous area is an area of a Country that has a degree of Autonomy, or freedom from an external authority ^[9] Under the policy of "one country, two systems", the Central People's Government is responsible for the territory's defense and foreign affairs, while Macau maintains its own legal system, police force, monetary system, customs policy, immigration policy, and delegates to international organisations and events. " One country two systems " is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping during the early 1980s then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic The Central People's Government is the Central government of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. Macau law is broadly based on Portuguese Law, and therefore part of the civil law tradition of Continental European legal systems On December 20, 1999, the various Police force branches of Macau (Security Forces of Macau (SFM and Judiciary Police under the jurisdiction of Security With the increase in prosperity and the expansion of the Economy in Macau, there is a growing demand from all over the World for residency in the Special ^[9][10]

Etymology

Main article: Names of Macau

Before the Portuguese settlement in the early 16th century, Macau was known as Haojing (Oyster Mirror) or Jinghai (Mirror Sea). The Macau Special Administrative Region ( full nameogg|in Mandarin}} {{Audio-nohelp|Chinese(Cantonese-Macau full name Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. ^[11] The name Macau is thought to be derived from the Templo de A-Má, a temple built in 1448 dedicated to Matsu - the goddess of seafarers and fishermen. A-Ma Temple (Templo de A-Má) situated on the southwest tip of the Macau Peninsula, is one of the oldest and most famous temples in Macau. Tin Hau redirects here For other meanings of Tin Hau see Tin Hau (disambiguation Mazu ( also spelt Matsu, is the Taoist It is said that when the Portuguese sailors landed at the coast just outside the temple and asked the name of the place, the natives replied "A-Ma-Gao" (Bay of A-Ma). The Portuguese then named the peninsula Macau. ^[12]

History

Main articles: History of Macau and Transfer of the sovereignty of Macau

The recorded history of Macau can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC), when the region now called Macau came under the jurisdiction of Panyu County, Nanhai Prefecture of the province of Guangdong. Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR of the People's Republic of China. The transfer of sovereignty of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China (PRC occurred on December 20, Not to be confused with the Qing Dynasty, the last dynasty of China Panyu District or Pun Yue District ( Chinese: 番禺区 is a district in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. "Nanhai" redirects here For the historic Chinese ship see Nanhai No Guangdong ( EFEO: Kouangtong; Pinyin Guǎngdōng; Postal map spelling: Kwangtung) is a province on the ^[11] The first recorded inhabitants of the area were people seeking refuge in Macau from invading Mongols, during the Southern Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms ^[13] Later in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD), fishermen migrated to Macau from various parts of Guangdong and Fujian provinces. The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led This article is about the People's Republic of China province However, Macau did not develop as a major settlement until the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century. ^[14] In 1535, the Portuguese traders obtained the rights to anchor ships in Macau's harbours and the right to carry out trading activities, though not the right to stay onshore. ^[15] Around 1552–1553, they obtained a temporary permission to erect storage sheds onshore, in order to dry out goods drenched by sea water. ^[16] They later built some rudimentary stone-houses around the area now called Nam Van. In 1557, the Portuguese establish a permanent settlement in Macau, at an annual rent of 500 taels of silver. Tael can refer to any one of several Weight measures of the Far East. ^[16]

St. Paul's Cathedral by George Chinnery (1774—1852). The Ruins of St Paul's (Ruínas de São Paulo refer to the façade of what was originally the Cathedral of St George Chinnery (Chinese name zh 錢納利 January 5, 1774 &ndash May 30, 1852) was an English painter who spent most The cathedral was built in 1602 and destroyed by fire in 1835. Today only the southern stone façade remains.

Since then, more Portuguese settled in Macau to engage in trading activities, and there were demands for self-administration, but did not achieved until 1840s^[17]. In 1576, Macau was established as an episcopal see by Pope Gregory XIII. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Macau was established on January 23, 1576 by the edict of Pope Gregory XIII. Pope Gregory XIII (January 7 1502 &ndash April 10 1585 born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585 ^[18] In 1583, the Portuguese in Macau were permitted to form a Senate to handle various issues concerning their social and economic affairs under strict supervision of the Chinese authority,^[19] but there was no transfer of sovereignty. ^[13] Macau prospered as a port but was the target of repeated failed attempts^[20] by the Dutch to conquer it in the 17th century. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Following the Opium War (1839–42), Portugal occupied Taipa and Coloane in 1851 and 1864 respectively. The Opium Wars ( also known as the Anglo-Chinese Wars, lasted from 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860 the climax of a trade dispute between China under the Qing Taipa is the smaller of the two islands in Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (formerly the Portuguese colony Coloane is one of the two main islands of Macau, located directly south of Macau's other main island Taipa (氹仔 and east of Hengqin Island In 1887, the Qing government was forced to sign the Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce, under which China ceded to Portugal the right of "perpetual occupation and government of Macau"; conversely, Portugal pledged to seek China's approval before transferring Macau to another country. Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China Macau officially became a Portuguese colony. ^[13]

After the Qing Dynasty was overthrown following the Xinhai Revolution, in 1928 the Kuomintang government officially notified Portugal that it was abrogating the former treaty,^[21] and in its place the Sino-Portuguese Friendship and Trade Treaty was signed. The Xinhai Revolution or Shinhai Revolution ( also known as the 1911 Revolution or the Chinese Revolution, began with the Wuchang Uprising Making only a few provisions concerning tariff principles and matters relating to business affairs, the treaty failed to mention the question with regard to the sovereignty of Macau. Consequently, the situation of Portuguese occupation and government of Macau remained unchanged. ^[22] After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Beijing government declared the Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce to be invalid as an “unequal treaty” imposed by foreigners on China. Unequal Treaties is a term used in reference to the type of Treaties signed by several East Asian states including Qing Dynasty China, late However, Beijing was not ready to settle the treaty question, leaving the maintenance of “the status quo” until a more appropriate time. ^[23]

The flag used by the Portuguese Government of Macau until 1999.

In 1966, with the general dissatisfaction of the Portuguese government and under the influence of the Cultural Revolution in mainland China, more serious riots broke out in Macau. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China was a struggle for power within the Communist Party of China that manifested into The most serious one is the so-called 12-3 incident that resulted in more than 200 people killed or injured. ^[24][25] On January 28, 1967 the Portuguese government signed a statement of apology. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. This marked the beginning of equal treatment and recognition of Chinese identity and of de facto Chinese control of the colony, as an official apology underlined the fact that after 1949, administration of Macau continued only at the behest of the mainland communist government. ^[25] Shortly after the Carnation Revolution leftist military coup of 1974 in Lisbon, the newly assigned government of Portugal was determined to relinquish all its overseas possessions. The Carnation Revolution (Revolução dos Cravos was an almost bloodless military-led pro-democratic Coup d'état, started on April 25, 1974, in Lisbon Lisbon (Lisboa liʒˈboɐ is the Capital and largest city of Portugal. Politics of Portugal takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Republic, whereby the Prime Minister In 1976, Lisbon redefined Macau as a "Chinese territory under Portuguese administration," and granted it a large measure of administrative, financial and economic autonomy. Portugal and China agreed in 1979 to regard Macau as "a Chinese territory under (temporary) Portuguese administration". ^[13][26] Negotiations between the Chinese and Portuguese governments on the question of Macau started in June 1986. In 1987, an international treaty, known as the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration, was signed to make Macau a special administrative region of China. ^[27] The Chinese government assumed sovereignty over Macau on December 20, 1999. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) ^[28]

Government and politics

Main articles: Politics of Macau, Legislative Assembly of Macau, Legal system of Macau, and Municipalities of Macau

Headquarters of the Government of Macau, previously the Governor's House until 1999. Politics of Macau takes place in a framework of a political system dominated by the People's Republic of China, an own legislature the Chief Executive as the The Legislative Assembly of the Macau Special Administrative Region is the organ of the legislative branch of Macau Macau law is broadly based on Portuguese Law, and therefore part of the civil law tradition of Continental European legal systems The councils and assemblies of the municipalities of Macau were abolished on 1 January 2002 and their functions transferred to the Instituto para os Assuntos Cívicos e Municipais

Office building of the Legislative Assembly of Macau. The Legislative Assembly of the Macau Special Administrative Region is the organ of the legislative branch of Macau

The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, Macau's constitution promulgated by China's National People's Congress in 1993, specify that Macau's social and economic system, lifestyle, rights, and freedoms are to remain unchanged for at least 50 years after the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1999. A similar term is "National Congress" which is a less common translation of People's Political Consultative Conference. ^[9] Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Macau enjoys a high degree of autonomy in all areas except in defence and foreign affairs. ^[9] Macau officials, rather than PRC officials, run Macau through the exercise of separate executive, legislative, and judicial powers, as well as the right to final adjudication. ^[29] Macau maintains its own separate currency, customs territory, immigration and border controls, and police force. The pataca ( ISO 4217 code MOP) is the currency of Macau. It is subdivided into 100 avos ( Cantonese: 仙 sin) ^[30][31]

The Macau government is headed by the chief executive, who is appointed by the central government upon the recommendation of an election committee, whose three hundred members are nominated by corporate and community bodies. The Chief Executive ( of Macau is the head of the government of Macau, a Special administrative region of the People's Republic of China and The recommendation is made by an election within the committee. ^[32] The chief executive's cabinet comprise five policy secretaries and is advised by the Executive Council that has between seven and eleven members. ^[33] Edmund Ho Hau Wah, a community leader and former banker, is the first chief executive of the Macau SAR, replacing General Vasco Rocha Vieira at midnight on December 20, 1999. Education After completing his primary education Ho went to study in Canada in 1969 Vasco Joaquim Rocha Vieira (b Lagoa, August 16, 1939) was the last Governor of Macau. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Ho is currently serving his second term of office. ^[34]

The legislative organ of the territory is the Legislative Assembly, a 29-member body comprising 12 directly elected members, ten indirectly elected members representing functional constituencies and seven members appointed by the chief executive. The Legislative Assembly of the Macau Special Administrative Region is the organ of the legislative branch of Macau In the political systems of Hong Kong and Macau, a functional constituency is a professional or special interest group involved in the electoral process ^[35] Any permanent residents at or over 18 years of age are eligible to vote in direct elections. ^[36] For indirect election, it is only limited to organisations registered as "corporate voters" and a 300-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organisations, and central governmental bodies. ^[37] The basic and original framework of the legal system of Macau, based largely on Portuguese law or Portuguese civil law system, is preserved after 1999. The Portuguese legal system is a civil law or continental legal system based on Roman law. The territory has its own independent judicial system, with a high court. Judges are selected by a committee and appointed by the chief executive. Foreign judges may serve on the courts. ^[38] Macau has a three-tier court system: the Court of the First Instance, the Court of the Second Instance and the Court of Final Appeal. The Court of Final Appeal ( Tribunal de Ultima Instancia is the court with the final adjudication power on laws of Macau Special Administrative ^[39]

Geography

Main article: Geography of Macau

The map of Macau, showing Macau Peninsula, Cotai, Taipa and Coloane. Macau is a city on the southern coast of China. It is located at the south of Guangdong Province on the tip of the Peninsula formed by the Zhujiang Macau Peninsula is the oldest and most populous part of the former Portuguese territory of Macau, now a special administrative region of the People's Cotai ( is a 52 km2 piece of newly reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane islands in Macau, that has not yet been assigned to any of the Taipa is the smaller of the two islands in Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (formerly the Portuguese colony Coloane is one of the two main islands of Macau, located directly south of Macau's other main island Taipa (氹仔 and east of Hengqin Island

Macau is situated 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest of Hong Kong and 145 kilometres (90 mi) from Guangzhou. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders ^[40][5] It consists of the Macau Peninsula itself and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. Macau Peninsula is the oldest and most populous part of the former Portuguese territory of Macau, now a special administrative region of the People's Taipa is the smaller of the two islands in Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (formerly the Portuguese colony Coloane is one of the two main islands of Macau, located directly south of Macau's other main island Taipa (氹仔 and east of Hengqin Island The peninsula is formed by the Zhujiang (Pearl River) estuary on the east and the Xijiang (West River) on the west. The Zhu Jiang, ( Chinese 珠江 Pinyin: Zhū Jiāng or Pearl River or less commonly the Canton River, is China 's third longest An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open Xi River ( Chinese 西江 Pinyin: Xī Jiāng, Postal map spelling: Si Kiang, lit ^[40] It borders the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone in mainland China. Administration The Prefecture-level city of Zhuhai administers 3 county-level divisions, all of which are districts Xiangzhou A Special Economic Zone ( SEZ) is a geographical region that has economic laws that are more liberal than a country's typical economic laws The main border crossing between Macau and China is known as the Portas do Cerco (Barrier Gate) on the Macau side, and the Gongbei checkpoint on the Zhuhai side. Portas do Cerco ( Chinese: 關閘 literally border gate is an area on the Macao Peninsula (built in 1870 in the former Portuguese colony ^[41] Macau Peninsula was originally an island, but a connecting sandbar gradually turned into a narrow isthmus, thus changing Macau into a peninsula. A shoal or sandbar (also called sandbank) is a somewhat Linear Landform within or extending into a body of Water, An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas Land reclamation in the 17th century transformed Macau into a peninsula with generally flat terrain, though numerous steep hills still mark the original land mass. ^[40] Alto de Coloane is the highest point in Macau, with an altitude of 170. 6 metres (559. 7 ft). ^[5] With a dense urban environment, Macau has no arable land, pastures, forest, or woodland. Urbanizationn (also spelled urbanisation) is the physical growth of Urban areas into rural or natural land as a result of population in-migration to an existing

Macau has a humid subtropical climate, with average humidity between 75% and 90%. The subtropics are the zones of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropic zone which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of ^[42] Seasonal climate is greatly influenced by the monsoons and therefore temperature difference between summer and winter is significant. A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months The average annual temperature of Macau is 22. 3 °C (72. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. 1 °F). Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 ^[43] July is the warmest month, with average temperature being 28. 6 °C (83. 5 °F). The coolest month is January, with average temperature 14. 5 °C (58. 1 °F). ^[42] Located in the coastal region of south of China, Macau has ample rainfall, with average annual precipitation being 2,030 millimetres (80 in). In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric ^[44] However, winter is mostly dry due to the monsoon from mainland China. Autumn in Macau (i. e. October to December) is sunny and warm with low humidity. Winter (i. e. January to March) is relatively cold but sunny. In spring (i. e. start from April), the humidity starts to increase and in summer (i. e. May to September) the climate is warm to hot and humid with rain and occasional typhoons. ^[42]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Macau

Nightview of Macau Tower, a communication and entertainment tower that has various restaurants, theaters, shopping malls and a variety of adventurous activities. Macau Tower ( also known as Macau Sky Tower, is a Tower located in the former Portuguese colony of Macau, now a Special

The central business district of Macau. The building shown is the BNU tower. Banco Nacional Ultramarino ('bɐ̃ku nɐsiu'naɫ uɫtɾɐmɐ'ɾinu; National Overseas Bank was a Portuguese Bank with operations throughout the world especially

Macau's economy is based largely on tourism, much of it geared toward gambling. Other chief economic activities in Macau are export-geared textile and garment manufacturing, banking and other financial services. ^[6] The clothing industry has provided about three quarters of export earnings, and the gaming, tourism and hospitality industry is estimated to contribute more than 50% of Macau's GDP, and 70% of Macau government revenue. ^[33]

Macau is a founding member of the WTO and has maintained sound economic and trade relations with more than 120 countries and regions, with European Union and Portuguese-speaking countries in particular; Macau is also a member of the IMF. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in The Community of Portuguese Language Countries ( Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa, pron. The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) is an International organization that oversees the Global financial system by following the Macroeconomic ^[47] World Bank classifies Macau as a high income economy^[48] and the GDP per capita of the region in 2006 was US$28,436. The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e After the Handover in 1999, there has been a rapid rise in the number of mainland visitors due to China's easing of travel restrictions. The transfer of sovereignty of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China (PRC occurred on December 20, Together with the liberalization of Macau's gaming industry in 2001 that induces significant investment inflows, the average growth rate of the economy between 2001 and 2006 is approximately 13. Economic growth is the increase in the amount of the goods and services produced by an economy over time 1% annually. ^[49]

In a World Tourism Organization report of international tourism statistics for 2006, Macau ranked 21st in terms of tourist arrivals and 24th in terms of tourism receipts. The United Nations World Tourism Organization ( UNWTO) headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is a United Nations agency dealing with questions relating ^[50] From 9. 1 million visitors in 2000, arrivals to Macau has grown to 18. 7 million visitors in 2005 and 22 million visitors in 2006,^[51] with over 50% of the arrivals coming from mainland China and another 30% from Hong Kong. Macau is expected to receive between 24 and 25 million visitors in 2007. ^[52] Since the Handover, Triad underworld violence, a deterring factor for tourists, has virtually disappeared, to the benefit of the tourism sector. Triad ( also known as) is a term that describes many branches of Chinese underground society and/or organizations based in Hong Kong and Macau and also ^[53]

Starting in 1962, the gambling industry had been operated under a government-issued monopoly license by Stanley Ho's Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau. Stanley Ho, OBE, GBS, GLM (born November 25, 1921) also known as Ho Hung-sun, Stanley Ho Hung-sun ( is an The Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau SA ( Chinese: 澳門旅遊娛樂股份有限公司 abbreviated as STDM) is a company in Macau owned by The monopoly ended in 2002, and several casino owners from Las Vegas attempted to enter the market. Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally With the opening of the Sands Macau, the largest casino in the world as measured by total number of table games,^[54] in 2004 and Wynn Macau in 2006,^[55] gambling revenues from Macau's casinos were for the first time greater than those of Las Vegas Strip (each about $6 billion),^[56][57] making Macau the highest-volume gambling centre in the world. Sands Macao ( is a casino resort located in Macau Peninsula, Macau. Wynn Macau, owned by Wynn Resorts, is a luxury integrated resort in Macau Peninsula, Macau, People's Republic of China, offering gaming The Las Vegas Strip (also known as The Strip) is an approximately 4 mile (6 ^[58] In 2007, Venetian Macau, the second largest building in the world, opened its doors to the public, followed by MGM Grand Macau. The Venetian Macao is a Renaissance Venice -themed luxury hotel and casino resort in Macau, China owned by the Las Vegas Sands corporation The MGM Grand Macau is a 35-storey 600-room casino resort with approximate investment amount USD $1 Numerous other hotel casinos, including Galaxy Cotai Megaresort and Ponte 16, are also to be opened in the near future. Ponte 16 Resort Macau, on Rua do Visconde Paco de Arcos in Macau is a hotel and casino resort co-developed by SJM - Investment Limited a wholly owned subsidiary of Sociedade de Jogos

In 2002, the Macau government ended the monopoly system and six casino operating concessions and subconcessions are granted to Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, the partnership of MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho Chiu-king, and the partnership of Melco and PBL. The Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau SA ( Chinese: 澳門旅遊娛樂股份有限公司 abbreviated as STDM) is a company in Macau owned by Wynn Resorts Limited is a publicly traded corporation based in Las Vegas Nevada that is a developer and operator of high end Hotels and Casinos It Las Vegas Sands Corp ( is a Casino resort company based in Las Vegas Nevada and majority owned by one of the world's richest men Sheldon Adelson Galaxy Entertainment Group is a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE code 00027 that owns and operates hotels and casinos in Macau through its subsidiary MGM Mirage ( is a Las Vegas, Nevada -based business engaged in the development ownership and operation of hotels and casinos throughout the world Today, there are 16 casinos operated by the STDM, and they are still crucial in the casino industry in Macau, but in 2004, the opening of the Sands Macau ushered in the new era. Sands Macao ( is a casino resort located in Macau Peninsula, Macau. ^[54][59][60]

Macau is an offshore financial centre, a tax haven, and a free port with no foreign exchange control regimes. An offshore financial centre (or OFC) although not precisely defined is usually a low- Tax, lightly Regulated jurisdiction which specializes in providing A tax haven is a place where certain Taxes are levied at a low rate or not at all A free port ( porto franco) or free zone (US Foreign-Trade Zone is a port or area with relaxed jurisdiction with respect to the country of location ^[61][62][63] The offshore finance business is regulated and supervised by the Monetary Authority of Macau,^[64] while the regulation and supervision of the offshore non-finance business is mainly controlled by the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. The Monetary Authority of Macao (Autoridade Monetária de Macau abbr ^[65] In 2007, Moody's Investors Service upgraded Macau's foreign and local currency government issuer ratings to 'Aa3' from 'A1', citing its government's solid finances as a large net creditor. Moody's Corporation ( is the holding company for Moody's Investors Service which performs financial research and analysis on commercial and government entities The rating agency also upgraded Macau's foreign currency bank deposit ceiling to 'Aa3' from 'A1'. ^[66]

As prescribed by the Macau Basic Law, the government follows the principle of keeping expenditure within the limits of revenues in drawing up its budget, and strive to achieve a fiscal balance, avoid deficits and keep the budget commensurate with the growth rate of its gross domestic product. The Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is the Constitution of Macau, replacing the Estatuto Orgânico de Macau The Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( conventional short name Macau Government, A fiscal adjustment is a reduction in the government primary budget Deficit, and it can result from a reduction in government expenditures an increase in Tax revenues A budget deficit occurs when an Entity (often a Government) spends more Money than it takes in All the financial revenues of the Macau Special Administrative Region shall be managed and controlled by the Region itself and shall not be handed over to the Central People's Government. In business revenue or revenues is Income that a company receives from its normal business activities usually from the sale of goods and services Power within the Government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies the Communist Party of China, the state and the People's The Central People's Government shall not levy any taxes in the Macau Special Administrative Region. ^[67]

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Macau and Religion in Macau

Macau is the most densely populated region in the world, with a population density of 18,428 persons per square kilometre (47,728/sq mi). List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² ^[69] 95% percent of Macau's population is Chinese; another 2% is of mixed Chinese/Portuguese descent, an ethnic group often referred to as Macanese. Macanese ( "people of Macau" can be a general term for the residents or natives of Macau, a special administrative region of the People's Republic ^[68] According to the 2006 by-census, 47% of the residents were born in mainland China, of whom 74. 1% born in Guangdong and 15. Guangdong ( EFEO: Kouangtong; Pinyin Guǎngdōng; Postal map spelling: Kwangtung) is a province on the 2% in Fujian. This article is about the People's Republic of China province Meanwhile, 42. 5% of the residents were born in Macau, and those born in Hong Kong, the Philippines and Portugal shared 3. 7%, 2. 0% and 0. 3% respectively. ^[68]

The growth of population in Macau mainly relies on immigrants from mainland China and the influx of overseas workers since its birth rate is one of the lowest in the world. ^[70] According to a recent survey conducted by the U. S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Macau is among the top 10 countries/regions with the highest life expectancy at birth,^[71] while its infant mortality rate ranks among the lowest in the world. near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all __FORCETOC__This is a list of countries by Life expectancy at birth the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year if mortality at each age remains This is a list of countries by infant mortality rate. Figures are from the 2006 revision of the United Nations World Population Prospects report for the period 2005-2010 and the ^[72]

Ruins of St. Paul's, the façade of what was originally the Cathedral of St. The Ruins of St Paul's (Ruínas de São Paulo refer to the façade of what was originally the Cathedral of St Paul built in 1602.

Both Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese are Macau's official languages. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. ^[73] Standard Macanese Portuguese is identical to European Portuguese. Macanese Portuguese (Português Macaense in Portuguese is a Portuguese dialect spoken in Macau. European Portuguese (português europeu in Portuguese is a group of Portuguese dialects spoken mainly in Portugal but also in places of Africa and Asia Other languages such as Mandarin, English and Hokkien are also spoken by some local communities. Standard Mandarin, also known as Standard Spoken Chinese, is the official modern Chinese spoken language used in mainland China and Taiwan The Southern Min language or Min Nan ( POJ: Bân-lâm-gú or "Southern Fujian" language refers to a family of Chinese languages Dialects ^[74] The Macanese language, a distinctive creole generally known as Patuá, is still spoken by several dozen Macanese. Macanese or Macau Creole (known as Patuá to its speakers is a Creole language derived mainly from Malay, Sinhalese A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable Language that originates seemingly as a nativized Pidgin. ^[75]

Most Chinese in Macau are profoundly influenced by their own tradition and culture, of which Chinese folk religion, that includes the faiths of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, forms an integral part. Chinese folk religion is a collective label given to various folkloric beliefs that draws heavily from Chinese mythology. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B ^[33] Macau has a sizable Christian community; Roman Catholics and Protestants constitute 7% and 2% of the population respectively. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. In addition, 17% of the population follows distilled original Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for ^[76]

A-Ma Temple, a temple built in 1448 dedicated to the goddess Matsu. A-Ma Temple (Templo de A-Má) situated on the southwest tip of the Macau Peninsula, is one of the oldest and most famous temples in Macau. Tin Hau redirects here For other meanings of Tin Hau see Tin Hau (disambiguation Mazu ( also spelt Matsu, is the Taoist

Having an economy driven by tourism, 14. 6% of Macau's workforce is employed in restaurants and hotels, and 10. 3% in the gambling industry. ^[74] With the opening of several casino resorts and other major constructions underway, it is reported that many sectors experience a shortage of labour. The government responds by importing labour from other neighboring regions.

Currently the number of imported labours stands at a record high of 75,391 (Q2 2007), representing more than a quarter of the labour force in Macau. ^[77] Some local workers complain about the lack of jobs due to the influx of cheap imported labour. Some also claim that the problem of illegal labour is severe. ^[78] Another concern is the widening of income inequality in the region: Macau's Gini coefficient, a popular measure of income inequality where a low value indicates a more equal income distribution, rises from 0. The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion most prominently used as a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth 43 in 1998 to 0. 48 in 2006. It is higher than those of other neighbouring regions, such as mainland China (0. 447), South Korea (0. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː 316) and Singapore (0. Singapore 425). ^[79].

In 2007, there were a total of 4,537 births and 1,545 deaths. [1]

Education

Main article: Education in Macau

The administrative building of the University of Macau, the first modern university in the region. Most of the schools in Macau are private or subsidized schools The University of Macau ( Universidade de Macau established in 1981, was the first and currently the largest (in terms of student population university in Macau

A fifteen-year free education is currently being offered to residents, that includes a three-year kindergarten, followed by a six-year primary education and a six-year secondary education. Despite the fifteen-year free education, the literacy rate of the territory is only 93. traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, 5%. The illiterates are, however, mainly among the senior residents aged 65 or above; the younger generation, for example the population aged 15-29, has a literary rate of above 99%. ^[68] Currently, there is only one school in Macau where Portuguese is the medium of instruction.

Macau does not have its own universal education system; non-tertiary schools follow either the British, the Chinese, or the Portuguese education system. There are currently 10 tertiary educational institutions in the region, four of them being public. ^[33] In 2006, the Programme for International Student Assessment, a world-wide test of 15-year-old schoolchildren's scholastic performance coordinated by OECD, ranked Macau as the fifth and sixth in science and problem solving respectively. ^[80] Nevertheless, education levels in Macau are low among high income regions. According to the 2006 by-census, among the resident population aged 14 and above, only 51. 8% has a secondary education and 12. 6% has a tertiary education. ^[68]

As prescribed by the Basic Law of Macau Chapter VI Article 121, the Government of Macau shall, on its own, formulate policies on education, including policies regarding the educational system and its administration, the language of instruction, the allocation of funds, the examination system, the recognition of educational qualifications and the system of academic awards so as to promote educational development. The Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is the Constitution of Macau, replacing the Estatuto Orgânico de Macau The Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( conventional short name Macau Government, Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them To examine somebody or something is to inspect it closely hence an examination is a detailed inspection or analysis of an object or person The government shall also in accordance with law, gradually institute a compulsory education system. Compulsory education is Education which children are required by law to receive and governments to provide Community organisations and individuals may, in accordance with law, run educational undertakings of various kinds. ^[67]

Healthcare

Main article: List of hospitals in Macau

Macau is served by one major public hospital, the Hospital Conde S. Januário, and one major private hospital, the Hospital Kiang Wu, both located in Macau Peninsula, as well as a university hospital called Macau University of Science and Technology Hospital in Cotai. List of hospitals in Macau Hospital Conde S Januário Hospital Kiang Wu Macau University of Science and Hospital Conde S Januário is an acute care hospital in Macau, run by the public sector Hospital Kiang Wu, a privately owned hospital located in Macau Peninsula, is one of three hospitals in Macau. Macau University of Science and Technology Hospital, commonly known as "MUST Hospital" is one of three hospitals in Macau. Cotai ( is a 52 km2 piece of newly reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane islands in Macau, that has not yet been assigned to any of the In addition to hospitals, Macau also has numerous health centres providing free basic medical care to residents. Consultation in traditional Chinese medicine is also available. Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM,) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. ^[81] Currently none of the Macau hospitals is independently assessed through international healthcare accreditation. Providing healthcare especially of an adequate standard is a complex and challenging process There are no western-style medical schools in Macau and thus all aspiring physicians in Macau have to obtain their education and qualification elsewhere. ^[33] Local nurses are trained at the Macau Polytechnic Institute and the Kiang Wu Nursing College. Nursing is a Profession focused on assisting individuals families, and communities in attaining maintaining and recovering optimal Health ^[82][83] Currently there are no training courses in midwifery in Macau. Midwifery is a Health care profession where providers give Prenatal care to expecting Mothers attend the birth of the Infant

The Health Bureau in Macau is mainly responsible for coordinating the activities between the public and private organisations in the area of public health, and assure the health of citizens through specialised and primary health care services, as well as disease prevention and health promotion. Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts and informed choices of society organisations Primary health care, often abbreviated as PHC ( Primary Health Centre) and PC is "essential health care based on practical scientifically sound Health promotion, as defined by the World Health Organization, is the process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health ^[84] The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was established in 2001, which monitors the operation of hospitals, health centres, and the blood transfusion centre in Macau. Blood transfusion is the process of transferring Blood or blood-based products from one person into the Circulatory system of another It also handles the organisation of care and prevention of diseases affecting the population, sets guidelines for hospitals and private health care providers, and issues licences. In most countries only persons with a medical license bestowed either by a specified government-approved Professional association or a Government agency are authorized ^[85]

Transport

Main article: Transport in Macau

Trishaw used to be a major public mode of transport in Macau. Internal Road TemplateMacau topics --> Buses and taxis are the major modes of public transport in Macau. The cycle rickshaw, being a small-scale local means of transport is also known by a variety of other names such as rickshaw, pedicab, bugbug, cyclo But now it is only for sightseeing purposes.

While the traffic in mainland China drives on the right, in Macau traffic moves on the left. Macau has a well-established public transport network connecting the Macau Peninsula, Cotai, Taipa Island and Coloane Island. Macau Peninsula is the oldest and most populous part of the former Portuguese territory of Macau, now a special administrative region of the People's Cotai ( is a 52 km2 piece of newly reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane islands in Macau, that has not yet been assigned to any of the Taipa is the smaller of the two islands in Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (formerly the Portuguese colony Coloane is one of the two main islands of Macau, located directly south of Macau's other main island Taipa (氹仔 and east of Hengqin Island Buses and taxis are the major modes of public transport in Macau. Currently two companies, namely Transmac and Transportas Companhia de Macau, operate franchised public bus services in Macau. Transportes Urbanos de Macau SARL (Transmac (Chinese 澳門新福利公共汽車有限公司 operates public transit buses in Macau. Transportas Companhia de Macau (TCM is one of the bus operators in Macau ( Transmac being the other ^[86] The trishaw, a hybrid of the tricycle and the rickshaw, is also available, though it is mainly for sightseeing purposes. The cycle rickshaw, being a small-scale local means of transport is also known by a variety of other names such as rickshaw, pedicab, bugbug, cyclo

The Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal provides cross-border transportation services for passengers travelling between Macau and Hong Kong, while the Yuet Tung Terminal in the Inner Harbour serves those travelling between Macau and cities in mainland China, including Shekou and Shenzhen. Shekou ( is an area at the tip of Nantou Peninsula in Shenzhen, Guangdong, southern China, south of Nantou and facing Lau Fau Shan Shenzhen is a city of sub-provincial administrative status in southern China's Guangdong province situated immediately ^[87] Macau has one active international airport, known as Macau International Airport located at the eastern end of Taipa and neighbouring waters. Macau International Airport ( Aeroporto Internacional de Macau situated at the eastern end of Taipa island and neighbouring waters is the only airport in Macau Since currently there are no regular direct passenger-flights between mainland China and Taiwan, the airport serves as a transient avenue for the passengers travelling between the two regions. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. ^[88][89] It is the primary hub for Viva Macau and Air Macau. Viva Macau is a budget airline covering both regional and long-haul routes Air Macau Company Limited ( is an Airline based in Macau. It is the flag carrier of Macau operating services to 12 destinations in mainland China In 2006, the airport handled about 5 million passengers. ^[90]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Macau

The Statue of Guan Yin, a blend between the traditional images of the goddess Guan Yin and Holy Mary. A distinct feature in Macau has been the fusion between the Portuguese and Chinese cultures Guanyin (觀音 pinyin guānyīn, Wade-Giles kuan-yin) is the Bodhisattva of compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists

The mixing of the Chinese and Portuguese cultures and religious traditions for more than four centuries has left Macau with an inimitable collection of holidays, festivals and events. The Culture of China (traditional Chinese 中國文化 simplified Chinese 中国文化 is home to one of the world's oldest and most complex Civilizations covering a history The culture of Portugal is rooted in the Latin culture of Ancient Rome, with a Celtiberian background (a mixture of pre-Roman Celts and The biggest event of the year is the Macau Grand Prix in November,^[91] when the main streets in Macau Peninsula are converted to a racetrack bearing similarities with the Monaco Grand Prix. The Macau Grand Prix is a motor-racing event held annually in November in the streets of Macau. The Monaco Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Monaco is a Formula One race held each year on the Circuit de Monaco. Other annual events include Macau Arts festival in March,^[92] the International Fireworks Display Contest in September,^[93] the International Music festival in October and/or November,^[94] and the Macau International Marathon in December. ^[95]

The Portuguese style stone-road at Largo do Senado. The Senado Square, or Senate Square (Largo do Senado) is a paved area in the centre of the former Portuguese colony of Macau, enclosed by the buildings

The Lunar Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival and celebration normally takes place in late January or early February. Chinese New Year is the most important of the Traditional Chinese holidays. ^[96][40] The Pou Tai Un Temple in Taipa is the place for the Feast of Tou Tei, the Earth god, in February. The Procession of the Passion of Our Lord is a well-known Catholic rite and journey, which travels from Igreja de Santo Agostinho to Igreja da Sé Catedral‎, also taking place in February. ^[40] A-Ma Temple, which honours the Goddess Matsu, is in full swing in April with many congratulant worshippers during the A-Ma festival. To look on dancing dragons at the Feast of the Drunken Dragon and twinkling-clean Buddhas at the Feast of Bathing of Lord Buddha in May is common. In Coloane Village, the Taoist god Tam Kong is also honoured on the same day. Coloane Village ( Traditional Chinese: 路環村) is the only place where one can still find village life style in highly developed city Macau. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions ^[40] Dragon Boat festival is brought into play on Nam Van Lake in June and Hungry Ghosts' festival, in late August and/or early September every year. All events and festivities of the year end with Winter Solstice in December. The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 Solar terms (節氣 ^[95]

Local cooking in Macau consists of a blend of Cantonese and Portuguese cuisines. Cantonese ( Yue) cuisine comes from Guangdong Province in Southern China, or specifically from Guangzhou (Canton Portuguese cuisine is characterised by rich filling and full-flavoured dishes and is an example of a Mediterranean diet. ^[97] Many unique dishes resulted from the spice blends that the wives of Portuguese sailors used in an attempt to replicate European dishes. Its ingredients and seasonings include those from Europe, South America, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, as well as local Chinese ingredients. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[98] Typically, Macanese food is seasoned with various spices and flavours including turmeric, coconut milk, cinnamon and bacalhau, giving special aromas and tastes. Turmeric ( Curcuma longa) is a Rhizomatous Herbaceous Perennial plant of the Ginger family Zingiberaceae Coconut milk is a sweet milky white cooking base derived from the meat of a mature Coconut. Cinnamon ( Cinnamomum verum, synonym C zeylanicum) is a small Evergreen Tree 10–15 metres (32 Bacalhau means Codfish in Portuguese, but the word almost always refers to salt cod and the dishes made from it as fresh cod is rarely consumed in ^[99] Famous dishes include Galinha à Portuguesa, Galinha à Africana (African chicken), Bacalhau, Macanese Chili Shrimps and stir-fry curry crab. Galinha à Portuguesa or "Portuguese-style Chicken" (葡國雞 is a dish of Macanese cuisine. Bacalhau means Codfish in Portuguese, but the word almost always refers to salt cod and the dishes made from it as fresh cod is rarely consumed in Stir frying is an Umbrella term used to describe two fast Chinese cooking techniques chǎo ( 炒) and bào ( 爆) Pork chop bun, ginger milk and Portuguese-style egg tart are also very popular in Macau. A pork chop bun is one of the most famous and popular snacks in Macau. Ginger milk curd, also known as ginger-juice milk curd or simply ginger milk, is a Chinese hot Dessert originated in Shawan town of Panyu Egg tarts, custard tarts, or egg custard tarts are a kind of Pastry popular in many parts of the world but particularly in Chinese and Western European ^[100]

Macau preserves many historical properties in the urban area. The Historic Centre of Macau, which includes some twenty-five historic monuments and public squares, was officially listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on July 15, 2005 during the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Durban, South Africa. The Historic Centre of Macau (O Centro Histórico de Macau) is a collection of over twenty locations and sites that witness the unique assimilation and co-existence of eastern A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Durban (eThekwini is the third most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the EThekwini metropolitan municipality. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa ^[101]

See also

Main lists: List of basic Macau topics and List of Macau-related articles

References

Bibliography

• Chan, S. S. (2000). The Macau Economy. Publications Centre, University of Macau. ISBN 99937-26-03-6.  
• Fung, Bong Yin (1999). Macau: a General Introduction (in Chinese). Joint Publishing (H. K. ) Co. Ltd. . ISBN 962-04-1642-2.  
• Government Information Bureau (2007). Macau Yearbook 2007. Government Information Bureau of the Macau SAR. ISBN 978-99937-56-09-5.  

Further reading

• Cremer (Editor) (1988). Macau: City of Commerce and Culture. Univ of Washington Pr. ISBN 0295966084.  
• De Pina-Cabral (2002). Between China and Europe - Person, Culture and Emotion in Macau. Berg Publishers. ISBN 0826457495.  
• Eayrs, James (2003). Macau Foreign Policy and Government Guide. International Business Publications, USA. ISBN 0739764519.  

External links

Business

• MacauHub

Government

• Portal of the government of Macau
• Government Information Bureau
• Cultural Affairs Bureau
• Macau Government Tourist Office

Guides and directories

• Macau City Guide
• Macau travel guide from Wikitravel

Profiles

• CIA - The World Factbook — Macau
• Library of Congress - Country Study: Macau
• Macau Yearbook
• Encyclopedia of Macau (in Chinese)