APLIC 2009 Congress
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| General Information |
| About Macau |
Fishermen from Fujian and farmers from Guangdong were the first known settlers in Macau, when it was known as Ou Mun, or "trading gate", because of its location at the mouth of the Pearl River downstream from Guangzhou (Canton). In the early 1550s the Portuguese reached Ou Mun, which the locals also called A Ma Gao, "place of A Ma", in honour of the Goddess of Seafarers, whose temple stood at the entrance to the sheltered Inner Harbour.
The Portuguese adopted the name, which gradually changes into the name Macau, and with the permission of Guangdong's mandarins, established a city that within a short time had become a major entrepot for trade between China, Japan, India and Europe.
Macau is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China since 20 December 1999, and, like Hong Kong, benefits from the principle of "one country, two systems". The tiny SAR is growing in size - with more buildings on reclaimed land - and in the number and diversity of its attractions. The greatest of these continues to be Macau's unique society, with communities from the East and West complementing each other, and the many people who come to visit. |
| Location and Area |
 The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) is a part of China’s territory. It is located on the Southeast coast of China to the western bank of the Pearl River Delta. Bordering on Guangdong Province, it locates 60km from Hong Kong and 145km from the city of Guangzhou. |
| Time |
| Macau is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. |
| Language |
Chinese and Portuguese are the official languages, Cantonese being most widely spoken.
The official languages are used in government departments in all official documents and communications. English is generally used in trade, tourism and commerce. |
| Currency |
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.
There are no restrictions on the amount of currency, which can be brought in or taken out of the territory.
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| Climate |
Macau located at the west bank of Pearl River Delta in South China, is the intersection of Mainland China and South China Sea. 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.
It is usually casual even in the casinos. Cotton or light clothing is recommended for summer while woolen clothing and sometimes a top-coat for the winter. Sweaters and jackets are useful for the cooler evenings from October to April. |
| Electricity |
| Electricity in Macau is at 220V, 50Hz. The power plugs used in Macau are of the three-pin, square-shaped or round-shaped type. It is suggested to check before using an electrical appliance. |
| Getting to Macau |
Aircrafts
Tourists can use the Macau International Airport for travelling to several destinations in the region on direct flights or catch connecting flights to different portsof Asia, Europe or America. The airport is located on Taipa Island and is 15 minutes away from the Macau Ferry Terminal, 20 minutes from the Barrier Gate and only 10 minutes away from the COTAI Frontier Post. It operates 24 hours a day. For detailed information on flight schedules, please dial (853) 2886 1111 or visit http://www.macau-airport.com.
By Sea
Hong Kong has many facilities for Macau-bound travellers. The main sea terminal and heliport are located in Shun Tak Centre, on the waterfront West of Central District on Hong Kong Island. It is above Sheung Wan MTR station (Mass Transit Railway) and next to a terminus for buses and minibuses from many parts of Hong Kong, including the A2 Airbus from the airport. The terminal has passenger wharves and helipad, booking offices for current and advance sailings and flights, reservation offices of Macau hotels and travel agents, a branch of China Travel Service, and a Macau Government Tourist Office Information Counter.
To and from Hong Kong
Tourists can find quite a number of jetfoils, Catamarans and ferries available, run by TurboJET, First Ferry and the Cotai Strip CotaiJet™ .
To and from Shenzhen
The Yuet Tung Shipping Co and TurboJET's service also extends to carrying passengers to and from Shenzhen.
 For More information on Macau
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