Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [237]
From overseas, applications for work visas can be made at any Chinese embassy or consulate. In Hong Kong, contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department ( Map; 2824 6111; www.immd.gov.hk; 2nd fl, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai; 8.45am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, 9-11.30am Sat) for information on how to apply.
MACAU
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HISTORY
Early Settlement
The Arrival of the Portuguese
A Trading Powerhouse
The Golden Years
Portuguese Decline
A Change of Status
Macau in the 20th Century
The End of Portuguese Rule
The Handover & Macau after 1999
ARTS
Painting
Architecture
Literature
CULTURE
ECONOMY
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
NEIGHBOURHOODS
ORGANISED TOURS
MACAU PENINSULA
Central Macau Peninsula
Southern Macau Peninsula
Northern Macau Peninsula
MACAU PENINSULA WALKING TOUR
TAIPA & COLOANE ISLANDS
Taipa Island
Coloane Island
TAIPA WALKING TOUR
SHOPPING
ANTIQUES & CURIOS
CLOTHING
SPECIALITY FOODS
STAMPS
EATING
Portuguese & Macanese Cuisine
Other Cuisines
MACAU PENINSULA
TAIPA & COLOANE ISLANDS
Taipa Island
Coloane Island
ENTERTAINMENT
CASINOS
Gambling
CLUBBING
DRINKING
THEATRE
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES
Cycling
Go-Karting
Golf
Hiking
Water Sports
SPECTATOR SPORTS
Dog Racing
Grand Prix
Horse Racing
SLEEPING
MACAU PENINSULA
TAIPA & COLOANE ISLANDS
Taipa Island & Cotai Strip
Coloane Island
TRANSPORT
MACAU TO HONG KONG
Air
Sea
MACAU TO CHINA
Air
Land
Sea
MACAU TO ASIA PACIFIC
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Hire
DIRECTORY
BUSINESS HOURS
CLIMATE
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
DISCOUNT CARDS
EMERGENCY
HOLIDAYS
INTERNET ACCESS
LEFT LUGGAGE
MAPS
MEDICAL SERVICES
MONEY
POST
TELEPHONE
Useful Numbers
TOURIST INFORMATION
VISAS
WEBSITES
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top picks
Ruins of the Church of St Paul ( Click here)
Monte Fort ( Click here)
Avenida da República ( Click here)
A-Ma Temple ( Click here)
Portuguese and Macanese soul food ( Click here)
Taipa House Museum ( Click here)
Coloane Village ( Click here)
Casinos ( Click here)
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Macau, the first European enclave in Asia – established by the Portuguese and now a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China – is a cultural two-face with a more laidback and hedonistic streak than its sister SAR of Hong Kong. It is uniquely Chinese, but with an amicable Mediterranean charm.
In the last five years gambling in Macau has taken off like wildfire, drawing millions of Chinese punters to spend money in the only place where casinos are legal in China. It is now commonplace to refer to Macau as the Vegas of the East. Indeed, Macau has long since surpassed its American rival in gambling income. But Macau is much more than casinos. The 450-year Portuguese influence is still vivid: cobbled backstreets, baroque churches, ancient stone fortresses, art deco apartment buildings, and restful parks and gardens are everywhere, intermixed with numerous Chinese temples and shrines along the way. It’s a unique fusion of East and West that has been recognised by Unesco, which in 2005 named 30 buildings and squares collectively as the Historic Centre of Macau World Heritage Site.
This arresting clash certainly reveals an impressive history, but Macau is not about spending all its time living on a bygone era. Big-name entertainers not only bring gaming tables to Macau, but also other forms of entertainment and cultural festivals, ambitiously positioning Macau to become Asia’s leading arts and conference destination.
Long before the arrival of the city’s own Michelin guide, which sparks controversies and gourmet tourism, food was always one of the prime motives for gourmets to make the trip to Macau. Apart from the new fine-dining scenes that have sprung up in big resorts, the un-pretentious restaurants that serve hearty and home-style Portuguese and Macanese dishes are still the culinary drawcard.
Macau is just 65km west of Hong Kong, making it the closest getaway for Hong Kong residents. Travel between the two territories has never