The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) is a part of China's territory. It is located on the Southeast coast of China to the west of the Pearl River Delta. Bordering on Guangdong Province, it locates 60km from Hong Kong and 145km from the city of Guangzhou. Local time is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Due to land reclamation along its coastline, Macau has grown in land area from 10.28km 2 in the 19 th century to 27.3km 2 today , which is equal to one-fortieth of Hong Kong and one twenty-third of Singapore. Macau consists of the Macau peninsula and the two islands of Taipa and Coloane. Two bridges, Nobre de Carvalho Bridge and Friendship Bridge (Ponte da Amizade), link the peninsula to Taipa, while the two islands are inked by the six-lane 2.2km Taipa-Coloane Causeway.
The population of Macau was estimated to be 461,100 as in March 2004. Population density is over 16,000/km 2 , and the northern part of the peninsula is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Macau's population has undergone rapid demographic growth in the last two decades, increasing at an annual rate of around 4%. There is also an impressive flow of people in and out of the territory, with 25 million entries and exits recorded annually.
Macau's population comprise 51.9% female, 18.6% of Macau residents are under 15 years old and 73.4% are aged between 15 and 64. Those aged 65 years and older accounts for 7.9% of the population. Average life span for both sexes is over 78 years old.
The 2001 census puts Macau's population at 435,000, 95% of Chinese nationality, 2% Portuguese and 1% Filipinos.
Chinese and Portuguese are the official languages in Macau, and more than 97% of the people speak Chinese. Portuguese is spoken by about 0.7% and the remainder speak English, Filipino and other languages.
More than 80% of Macau's population have been living in the territory for more than 10 years, 45% of the population were born in Macau and another 45% were born in the Mainland, while less than 10% of residents are from other regions.
Macau's climate is warm and humid with a fairly wide variation in temperature over the year. From June to September, the temperature can rise to over 30?C while it can drop to less than 10?C from November to February. The average temperature seldom falls below 14?C. Macau's weather is also influenced by tropical cyclones from the South China Sea during the typhoon season between May and September.
Macau located at the west bank of Pearl River Delta in South China, is the intersection of Mainland China and South China Sea. It is also located at the south of tropic of Cancer. The winds directions in winter and summer are opposites. Therefore, Macau is in the monsoon region and from the climate classification is considered mild and rainy in summer. The most comfortable period begins from the middle of October to December.
The winter season in Macau covers the months January and February. The cold air from north Siberia continuously passes through the Mid and South China into Macau region and brings us cold and dry northerly winds. The urban temperature sometimes drops below 10¢X C. Therefore, the annual minimum temperature is generally recorded in these two months. The precipitation and rainy days are less it is because lack of water vapor in the atmosphere.
March and April is the seasonal interchange period. The wind direction along the coastal region of South China is mainly easterly to southeasterly, which will increase the temperature and humidity. Beside some occasional wet weather, fog, drizzle and low visibility days, the weather is mainly fine in spring.
The summer in Macau is longer than the other seasons. Because of hot and wet conditions, the bad weather such as thunderstorm and heavy rain always occur from May to September. Waterspout can be seen occasionally. Meanwhile from May to October, tropical cyclones occur frequently which make the highest records of precipitation, temperature, rainy days and thunderstorms. As local tropical cyclones number 8 typhoon signal is hoisted the sea and air transports are suspended.
The autumn begins at October, at that time the mainland China becomes cool. The autumn season in Macau is very short, the weather is stable and comfortable with clear sky. It finally returns to the cool and dry November. The cold air from the north will intrude periodically in December.
The Pataca (MOP$) is divided into 100 avos and it is Macau¡¦s official currency. There are banknotes and coins in the following denominations: Coins: 10, 20 and 50 avos; 1, 2, 5 and 10 Patacas. Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Patacas.
By the decision of the Government the Pataca is linked to the Hong Kong dollar (HK$) which is accepted as currency in Macau. The exchange rate is MOP$103.20 = HK$100.00. There is an acceptable variation up to 10%. Roughly 8 Patacas is equivalent to 1 US Dollar.
Foreign currency or travellers¡¦ cheques can be changed in hotels, banks and authorised exchange dealers located all around the city. If the visitor needs to change money outside the usual banking hours, there are 24 hours exchange counters operating in the Macau International Airport (Taipa Island) and in the Lisboa Hotel (Macau). Banks open normally from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Most credit cards are accepted in many hotels, shops and restaurants.
There are no restrictions on the amount of currency, which can be brought in or taken out.
Local calls in Macau are free of charge when made from a private phone. When using a public phone, they cost MOP$1.00. Phone cards can be purchased for MOP$50.00, MOP$100.00 or MOP$150.00 and they can be used as well as coins in public phones located all around the city and the islands. In the busiest areas there are also credit card phones. If you would like to use your mobile phone while in Macau, please contact the information services, dialing 1000(CTM), 1118(Hutchison Telecom) or 1628(SmarTone), or buy a GSM phonecard from any local Telecommunications companies.
Internet facilities are available at UNESCO Centre (Address: Alameda Dr. Carlos d'Assumpcao NAPE. Tel: 853-727066). You may also find several cyber-cafˆms all over the city.
Macau provides a very efficient and reliable post office service with the head office in the Senado Square. It's open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Monday to Friday), and on Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (Tel: 853-323666). It provides postal service and express mailing to destinations worldwide. There are post offices throughout the city, too. You can safely send letters, post cards or packages to anywhere in the world by normal or express mail (ask for information directly at the post office counters regarding costs and time). The Macau Postal Services have over 30 automatic vending machines in different parts of the city. Most hotels offer postal facilities for guests' letters and packages, and a packing service.
