General Idea

 Macau is one of the two Special Administrative Districts (another one is Hong Kong), locates on the west bank of the Pearl River Delta. This coastal city consists of Macau Peninsula, Taipa Island (Dangzai Island), Coloane Island and Lk Taipa Island City. Macau covers an area of 32.8 square meters with population up to 549,200, which make it one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Meanwhile, Macau is one of the World’s four Las Vegas”. Macau has developed in the past industries such as textiles, electronics and toys, while today has built up world class tourism industry with a wide choice of hotels, resorts, MICE facilities, restaurants and casinos. The economy grew rapidly and listed Macau one of the top affluent cities.
 
Because Macau just locates at the mouth of the Pearl River, it’s been called “Ou Mun” or “trading gate in local. It is believed that, fishermen from Fujian and farmers from Guangdong were the first known settlers in Macau. When the Portuguese reached Macau in the early 1550s, local folks also call this town “A Ma Gao” to worshiped the Goddess of Seafarers – Mazu (A-Ma). Portuguese adopted the name and its pronunciation, then it changes into the name “Macau” as the time goes by. Since 1557 the Portuguese obtained residency in Macau till 20th December, 1999, the P. R. China withdraws the sovereignty, western and eastern cultures coexistence in Macau, this traditional Chinese costal city and made it a unique historical and tourism city of the world.   
 
Area: 32.8square kilometers

Geography and Climate

Geography: Macau is located on the western bank of the Pearl River Delta, in Guangdong Province area, at latitude 22o 14' North, longitude 113o 35' East. Coastline stretches 44 kilometers. Its southern border is connected to Zhuhai Gongbei District by the Border Gate. Hong Kong is only 60km apart to the west. The Koloane Alto is listed as the highest point of the island, at the height of 172.4 meters.
 
Population: 549,200
 
Administrative Division: Macau Peninsula been divided into 5 Parishes, they are South Parish (Huadima Parish), St. Anthony Parish, the Grand Parish, Dewang Parish and St. Lawrence Parish. Besides, Macau outlying islands Taipa Island and Coloane Island belong to another 2 Parishes – Jia Moule Parish and St. Francis Parish.

Climate & Weather Briefing
Macau is deeply influenced by the ocean and monsoon, therefore, Macau's climate has obviously warm and rainy, damp and hot, wet and dry seasons. Macau mainly has two seasons winter and summer; its spring and autumn are short and not obvious.

The average annual temperature of Macau is about 22.3 ℃. The coldest month appears in January which has the average temperature of 14.6 ℃, while the hottest month is July with the average temperature of 28.5 ℃. The annual average sunshine hours in Macau is about 1956.4 hours, and its annual average rainfall is about 2013 mm. Generally, the months from July to October are the typhoon seasons in Macau.

Climate Data Table for Macau

History

 However, Macau still be a remote place to mainland people that time, it just become a temporary boarding place. It welcomed its first group of guests till the 12th century. Because of the decade of South Song Dynasty, Hundreds of thousands of the troops turned to Macau and settled down there. Gradually, Macau developed to a fisher town. Then in 1557, the Portuguese reached Macau and settled, they obtained privileges and made Macau their concession. In 1887, corrupted Qing Dynasty signed the unequal treaty and let Macau become one of the colonies of Portugal till 1999, the P. R. China withdraws the sovereignty. During the hundreds of years, oriental and western cultures and customs combined together and gave birth to a international tourism and economical metropolitan.

Places of Interest

Ruins of St. Paul's

A-Ma Temple

Golden Lotus Square

Maritime Museum

Kun Iam Tong

Senado Square

Macau Tower

Macau Fisherman's Wharf

Fortaleza do Monte