Arts Entertainments

10 surprising facts about Macau

Macau is a unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures and receives millions of visitors every year. If you’re considering a trip to East Vegas, we’ve put together some surprising facts about Macau to get you ready for the holidays.

1. A misunderstanding was the reason for the name of Macau

According to historians, the name of the region comes from a misunderstanding between Portuguese sailors and local citizens. When the Portuguese sailors first arrived on the island, they asked the locals what his name was. However, the locals misunderstood them and told them the name of the local temple, called “A-Ma-Gau”. Of course, the Portuguese sailors had no idea that they had been told the name of the nearby temple and not the name of the island, they began to call the area “A-Ma-Gau”, hence the current name Macao.

2. The second richest place in the world

It will not be a mistake to say that Macau is the biggest beneficiary of its gaming industry. The International Monetary Fund ranked the region as the second richest territory / country in the world in October 2017. The GDP per capita of the territory is $ 114,430. In addition, the territory does not have public debt and its fiscal reserves amount to $ 55 billion at the beginning of 2016.

3. The most densely populated region

Other places may seem overcrowded, but the key to Macau’s dense population is its small size. According to statistics, 650,834 people are packed into 30.5 square kilometers, making it the most densely populated territory – there are more than 55,500 people per square mile!

And, believe it or not, Macau received a total of 32.6 million tourists.

4. The government pays the locals

Since there are huge annual proceeds from casino taxes, the government gives Macau’s permanent residents 9,000 patacas (approximately $ 1,200) and non-permanent residents 5,400 patacas, or $ 670. Interestingly, the sum is not going to change and it has stayed that way for four years.

5. Macao was the first and only Chinese colony in Europe

Macao, which was leased to Portugal in 1557, remains the first and last European colony in China. China leased its island as a trading post and it became an official Portuguese territory in 1887. Finally, China regained its island in 1999.

Today, 450 years of Portuguese influence have left a fascinating mark. Both culture and architecture are a fusion of the Portuguese and Chinese civilizations. That’s not all, Portuguese is still the official language.

6. The locals speak one of the most endangered languages.

Patuá is a Creole language, a mixture of Cantonese and Portuguese, which developed in Macao and became the official language of the indigenous Eurasian (Macao) community of Macao. In 2000, an estimated 50 people spoke Patuá. In 2009, UNESCO classified Patuá as a “critically endangered” language.

In an attempt to preserve the Patuá language and culture of Macao, the locals organize a festival each year in which they present works in Patuá. The works have subtitles in Chinese, Portuguese and English.

7. Cuisine of Macau: the world’s first fusion cuisine

Not surprisingly, given that the Portuguese have lived on the island for over 400 years, Macau cuisine is considered the world’s first fusion cuisine. Macau cuisine is a combination of Portuguese and Chinese cooking ingredients and techniques. In a traditional restaurant, visitors can try traditional dishes such as minchi and African chicken.

8. Has a Guinness record

Macau is a mecca for all adrenaline junkies. There’s a reason quirky people go to Macau: the island is home to the Guinness World Record holder for the highest commercial jump on the planet – the Macau Tower, with a 233m (764ft) platform. By the way, the Macau Tower is not the highest bungee jumping location in the world – Royal Gorge Bridge, Colorado, USA rises 321 meters (1,053 feet) above the ground, making it the highest bungee jump in the world. world.

Still, Macau attracts more visitors than Colorado9. It is the world capital of the game

Another fact about Macau, which is probably not as surprising today as it would have been in 2007, is that Macau generates three times the gaming revenue of Las Vegas. In fact, the casino industry in Macau is flourishing to such an extent that it represents almost 80% of the island’s economy.

Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal, making it an attractive place for players from mainland China, Hong Kong, and of course the rest of the world. There’s a reason Macau is considered the gambling capital of the world: the island’s gambling industry generates $ 33 billion a year, compared to $ 939.8 million generated by the Las Vegas gambling industry. More surprisingly, Macau has only 49 casinos, while Las Vegas is home to 135 gambling establishments.

10. No alcohol to loosen up while you play.

Believe it or not, visitors are not served alcohol at gambling establishments in Macau. Instead of offering guests alcoholic beverages, the casino staff in Macau offers tea to guests. However, the forums say that

there are places that serve free alcoholic beverages to visitors, but they have to ask the room manager.

The VIP lounges and sections also offer free alcoholic beverages. However, Macau is not like Las Vegas in this matter and since Chinese culture is not used to tipping, there is no incentive to offer free drinks. Still, visitors can consume unlimited amounts of milk, coffee, coke, or tea.

Another surprising fact is that the table games in Macau casinos don’t include as much poker, blackjack, and roulette; in fact, the most popular table game in Macau casinos is none other than Baccarat.

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