Macau - wikipedia Macau `` Macao '' redirects here. For other uses of `` Macau '' or `` Macao '', see Macau ( disambiguation ). Macao Special Administrative Region of the People 's Republic of China 中華 人民 共和國 澳門 特別 行政區 Jūng'wàh Yàhnmàhn Guhng'wòhgwok Oumún Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui ( Cantonese ) Região Administrativa Especial de Macau da República Popular da China ( Portuguese ) Flag Emblem Anthem : `` March of the Volunteers '' 義勇軍 進行曲 Yihyúhnggwān Jeunhàhngkūk Marcha dos Voluntários City flower Nelumbo nucifera 蓮花 Līnfàa Location of Macau within China Status Special administrative region Official languages Chinese Portuguese Official scripts Traditional Chinese Portuguese orthography Ethnic groups ( 2014 ) 95.0 % Chinese 2.0 % Macanese 3.0 % others Demonym Macanese Government Devolved parliamentary multi-party system within socialist republic Chief Executive Fernando Chui Administration and Justice Secretary Sonia Chan Economy and Finance Secretary Lionel Leong Security Secretary Wong Sio Chak Assembly President Ho Iat Seng Court President Sam Hou Fai National representation National People 's Congress 12 deputies ( of 2,924 ) Legislature Legislative Assembly Autonomy within the People 's Republic of China Portuguese settlement 1557 Sino - Portuguese Treaty of Peking 1 December 1887 Transfer of sovereignty from Portugal 20 December 1999 Area Total 115.3 km ( 44.5 sq mi ) Water ( % ) 73.7 Population 2016 census 650,900 Density 21,411 / km ( 55,454.2 / sq mi ) ( 1st ) GDP ( PPP ) 2016 estimate Total $65.383 billion ( 93rd ) Per capita $104,169 ( 3rd ) GDP ( nominal ) 2016 estimate Total $44.803 billion ( 83rd ) Per capita $73,187 ( 3rd ) HDI ( 2015 ) 0.905 very high 17th Currency Macanese pataca ( MOP ) Time zone Macau Standard Time ( UTC + 8 ) Date format dd - mm - yyyy yyyy 年 mm 月 dd 日 Drives on the left Calling code + 853 ISO 3166 code MO Internet TLD. mo. 澳門. 澳门 Website gov.mo ^ Cantonese is the de facto standard. ^ For all government use, documents written using Traditional Chinese characters are authoritative over ones inscribed with Simplified Chinese characters. Portuguese shares equal status with Chinese in all official proceedings. ^ The UN does not calculate the HDI of Macau. The government of Macau calculates its own HDI. Macau Chinese name Traditional Chinese 澳門 Simplified Chinese 澳门 Literal meaning Bay Gate Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Àomén IPA ( ɑ̂ʊ̯mə̌n ) other Mandarin Xiao'erjing اَوْمٍ ‎ Wu Romanization au men Hakka Romanization Au mun Yue : Cantonese Yale Romanization Oumún IPA ( ōu. mǔːn ) Jyutping Ou3mun2 Canton Romanization ou mun Southern Min Hokkien POJ Ò - mn̂g Eastern Min Fuzhou BUC Ó̤ - muòng Macao Special Administrative Region Traditional Chinese 澳門 特別 行政區 ( or 澳門 特區 ) Simplified Chinese 澳门 特别 行政区 ( or 澳门 特区 ) Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū ( Àomén Tèqū ) Wu Romanization au men deh bih ghan tsen chiu Hakka Romanization Au mun Tet piet hang zin ki ( Au mun Tet ki ) Yue : Cantonese Yale Romanization Oumún Dahkbiht Hàhngjing Keūi IPA ( ōu. mǔːn tɐ̀k̚. piːt̚ hɐ̏ŋ. tsēŋ khɵ́y ) Jyutping Ou3mun2 Dak6bit6 Hang4zing3 Keoi1 Canton Romanization Ou mun Deg bid Heng jing Kêu Southern Min Hokkien POJ Ò - mn̂g Te̍k - pia̍t Hêng - chèng - khu Portuguese name Portuguese Região Administrativa Especial de Macau ( for `` Macau Special Administrative Region '' ) pronounced ( ʁɨʒiˈɐ̃w̃ ɐdminiʃtɾɐˈtivɐ ( ɨ ) ʃpɨsiˈaɫ dɨ mɐˈkaw ) Macau ( Chinese : 澳門, Cantonese : ( ōu. mǔːn ), / məˈkaʊ / ( listen ) ), also spelled Macao and officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People 's Republic of China, is an autonomous territory of China on the western side of the Pearl River estuary in East Asia. Macau is bordered by the city of Zhuhai in Mainland China to the north and the Pearl River Delta to the east and south. Hong Kong lies about 64 kilometres ( 40 mi ) to its east across the Delta. With a population of 650,900 living in an area of 30.5 km ( 11.8 sq mi ), it is the most densely populated region in the world. A former Portuguese colony, it was returned to Chinese sovereignty on 20 December 1999. Macau was administered by the Portuguese Empire and its inheritor states from the mid-16th century until late 1999, when it constituted the last remaining European colony in Asia. Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 1550s. In 1557, Macau was leased to Portugal from Ming China as a trading port. The Portuguese Empire administered the city under Chinese authority and sovereignty until 1887, when Macau became a colony through a mutual agreement between the two countries. Sovereignty over Macau was transferred back to China on 20 December 1999. The Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau and Macau Basic Law stipulate that Macau operate with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2049, fifty years after the transfer. Under the policy of `` one country, two systems '', the Central People 's Government of the People 's Republic of China is responsible for military defense and foreign affairs while Macau maintains its own legal system, public security force, monetary system, customs policy and immigration policy. Macau participates in international organizations and events that do not require members to possess national sovereignty. Macau is a resort city in Southern China, known for its casinos and luxury hotels. Its gaming revenue has been the world 's largest since 2006, with the economy heavily dependent on gaming and tourism. According to The World Factbook, Macau has the fourth highest life expectancy in the world. Moreover, it has a very high Human Development Index, ranking 17th in the world as of 2016. Macau is among the world 's richest regions and its GDP per capita by purchasing power parity was higher than that of any country in the world, according to the World Bank. It is known as the pre-eminent gambling ( or gaming ) capital of the world, dwarfing other gambling centers. Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2.1 Portuguese Macau 2.2 Transfer of sovereignty and SAR status 3 Government and politics 3.1 Executive 3.2 Legislature 3.3 Judiciary 3.4 Military 3.5 International relations 3.6 Administrative divisions 4 Geography 4.1 Climate 5 Economy 5.1 Monetary system 6 Demographics 6.1 Language 6.2 Religion 7 Infrastructure 7.1 Education 7.2 Healthcare 7.3 Transport 8 Culture 8.1 Cuisine 8.2 Sports 9 Notable people 10 See also 11 Notes 12 References 12.1 Citations 12.2 Sources 13 Further reading 14 External links Etymology Main article : Names of Macau The present Chinese name ( Chinese : 澳門 ; pinyin : Àomén ; Cantonese Yale : Oumún ) means `` Bay Outlet ''. Macau is otherwise known in Chinese as Haojing ( 濠 鏡, literally `` Moat Mirror '' ) or Jinghai ( 鏡 海, literally `` Mirror Sea '' ). The name Macau is thought to be derived from the A-Ma Temple ( Chinese : 媽 閣 廟 ; pinyin : Māgé Miào ; Cantonese Yale : Māgok Miuh ), a temple built in 1448 dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen. More precisely, the name Macau corresponds to the Chinese name `` 媽 港 '' ( pinyin : Māgǎng ), meaning `` Mazu Harbor '', and referring to the waters adjacent to the Ama Temple. History Main articles : History of Macau, Portuguese Macau, and Transfer of sovereignty over Macau Ruins of São Paulo Cathedral, built in 1602 and destroyed by fire in 1835 The history of Macau is traced back to the Qin dynasty ( 221 -- 206 BC ), when the region now called Macau came under the jurisdiction of Panyu County, Nanhai Prefecture ( modern Guangdong ). The first recorded Chinese inhabitants of the area were people seeking refuge in Macau from invading Mongols during the Southern Song. Under the Ming dynasty ( 1368 -- 1644 ), fishermen migrated to Macau from Guangdong and Fujian. The Macau native people were Tanka boat people. Macau did not develop as a major settlement until the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century. In 1513, Jorge Álvares became the first Portuguese to land in China. In 1535, Portuguese traders obtained the rights to anchor ships in Macau 's harbours and to carry out trading activities, though not the right to stay onshore. Around 1552 -- 1553, they obtained temporary permission to erect storage sheds onshore, in order to dry out goods drenched by sea water ; they soon built rudimentary stone houses around the area now called Nam Van. Portuguese Macau In 1557, the Portuguese established a permanent settlement in Macau, paying an annual rent of 500 taels ( 18.9 kilograms / 41.6 pounds ) of silver. The Portuguese continued to pay an annual tribute up to 1863 in order to stay in Macau. By 1564, Portugal commanded western trade with India, Japan, and China. In 1631 the Chinese restricted Portuguese commerce in China to the port of Macau. During the 17th century, some 5,000 slaves lived in Macau, in addition to 2,000 Portuguese and 20,000 Chinese. As more Portuguese settled in Macau to engage in trade, they made demands for self - administration ; but this was not achieved until the 1840s. In 1576, Pope Gregory XIII established the Roman Catholic Diocese of Macau. In 1583, the Portuguese in Macau were permitted to form a Senate to handle various issues concerning their social and economic affairs under strict supervision of the Chinese authority, but there was no transfer of sovereignty. Macau, c. 1870 Macau prospered as a port but it was the target of repeated failed attempts by the Dutch to conquer it in the 17th century. On 24 June 1622, the Dutch attacked Macau in the Battle of Macau, in the hope of turning it into a Dutch possession. The Portuguese repulsed their attack and the Dutch never tried to conquer Macau again. The majority of the defenders were African slaves, with only a few Portuguese soldiers and priests. Captain Kornelis Reyerszoon was commander of the 800 - strong Dutch invasion force. The grieving Dutch Governor Jan Pz. Coen said after the defeat that `` The slaves of the Portuguese at Macau served them so well and faithfully, that it was they who defeated and drove away our people there last year '', and `` Our people saw very few Portuguese '' during the battle. Following the First Opium War ( 1839 -- 42 ), Portugal occupied the empty islands of Taipa and Coloane in 1851 and 1864 respectively. On 1 December 1887, the Qing and Portuguese governments signed the Sino - Portuguese Treaty of Peking, under which China ceded the right of `` perpetual occupation and government of Macau by Portugal '' in compliance with the statements of the Protocol of Lisbon. In return, Macau Government would cooperate with Hong Kong 's smuggling trade in Indian opium and China would profit from imposing customs taxes. Portugal was also obliged `` never to alienate Macau without previous agreement with China '', therefore ensuring that negotiation between Portugal and France ( regarding a possible exchange of Macau and Portuguese Guinea with the French Congo ) or with other countries would not go forward -- so that the British commercial interests would be secured ; Macau officially became a territory under Portuguese administration. In 1928, after the Qing dynasty had been overthrown following the Xinhai Revolution, the Kuomintang ( KMT ) government officially notified Portugal that it would abrogate the Treaty of Amity and Commerce ; the two powers signed a new Sino - Portuguese Friendship and Trade Treaty in place of the abrogated treaty. Changing only a few provisions concerning tariff principles and matters relating to business affairs, the new treaty did not alter the sovereignty of Macau and Portuguese government of Macau remained unchanged. During World War II, unlike Portuguese Timor, which was occupied by the Japanese in 1942 along with Dutch Timor, the Japanese respected Portuguese neutrality in Macau, but only up to a point. Macau enjoyed a brief period of economic prosperity as the only neutral port in South China after the Japanese had occupied Guangzhou and Hong Kong. In August 1943, Japanese troops seized the British steamer Sian in Macau and killed about 20 guards. The next month they demanded the installation of Japanese `` advisors '' under the threat of overt military occupation. The result was that a virtual Japanese protectorate was created over Macau. The `` O Porto Interior '' in Macau, c. 1900 When it was discovered that `` neutral '' Macau was planning to sell aviation fuel to Japan, aircraft from the USS Enterprise bombed and strafed the hangar of the Naval Aviation Centre on 16 January 1945 to destroy the fuel. American air raids on targets in Macau were also made on 25 February and 11 June 1945. Following Portuguese government protests, in 1950 the United States paid US $20,255,952 to the government of Portugal. Between the end of the Pacific War and the establishment of the People 's Republic of China, Macau served as a safe haven for refugees of the Chinese Civil War. After the establishment of the People 's Republic of China in 1949, the Beijing government declared the Sino - Portuguese Treaty invalid as an `` unequal treaty '' imposed by foreigners on China. However, Beijing was not ready to settle the treaty question, allowing the maintenance of `` the status quo '' until a more appropriate time. Influenced by the Cultural Revolution in mainland China and by general dissatisfaction with Portuguese government, riots broke out in Macau in 1966. In the most serious, the so - called 12 - 3 incident, 6 people were killed and more than 200 people were injured. On 28 January 1967, the Portuguese government issued a formal apology by means of an `` admission of guilt ''. The Peoples Liberation Army enters Macau for the first time Shortly after Portugal 's 1974 Carnation Revolution, which overthrew the Estado Novo dictatorship, the new government determined it would relinquish all its overseas possessions. In 1976, Lisbon redefined Macau as a `` Chinese territory under Portuguese administration '' and granted it a large measure of administrative, financial, and economic autonomy. Three years later, Portugal and China agreed to regard Macau as `` a Chinese territory under ( temporary ) Portuguese administration ''. The Chinese and Portuguese governments commenced negotiations on the question of Macau in June 1986. The two signed the Sino - Portuguese Joint Declaration the next year, making Macau one of the special administrative regions of China. Transfer of sovereignty and SAR status The Chinese government assumed formal sovereignty over Macau on 20 December 1999 as a special administrative region ( SAR ) after over 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule. This event also marked the end of the Portuguese Empire and European colonialism in Asia. The economy since then has continued to prosper with the sustained growth of tourism from mainland China and the construction of new casinos. Government and politics Main articles : Politics of Macau, Legislative Assembly of Macau, Legal system of Macau, and Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau Macau Government Headquarters The Sino - Portuguese Joint Declaration and Macau Basic Law, Macau 's constitution, promulgated by China 's National People 's Congress in 1993, specify that Macau 's social and economic system, lifestyle, rights, and freedoms are to remain unchanged for at least 50 years after the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1999. Under the principle of `` one country, two systems '', Macau enjoys a high degree of autonomy in all areas except defence and foreign affairs. Macau officials, rather than PRC officials, run Macau through the exercise of separate executive, legislative, and judicial powers, as well as the right to final adjudication. Macau maintains its own currency ( the Macanese pataca ), customs territory, immigration and border controls and police force. Executive The government in Macau is headed by the Chief Executive of Macau, who is appointed by the central government upon the recommendation of an election committee, whose three hundred members are nominated by corporate and community bodies. The recommendation is made by an election within the committee. The chief executive 's cabinet is made up of five policy secretaries and two commissariats and is advised by the Executive Council of Macau, which has between seven and eleven members. Edmund Ho, a community leader and former banker, was the first chief executive of the Macau SAR, replacing General Vasco Rocha Vieira at midnight on 20 December 1999. Fernando Chui is the current Chief Executive. The chief executive and the cabinet have their offices in the Macau Government Headquarters, located in the area of São Lourenço. Legislature Legislative Assembly of Macau The legislative organ of the territory is the Legislative Assembly, a 33 - member body comprising 14 directly elected members, 12 indirectly elected members representing functional constituencies and seven members appointed by the chief executive. Any permanent residents at or over 18 years of age are eligible to vote in direct elections. Indirect election is limited to organizations registered as `` corporate voters '' and a 300 - member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies. In February 2009, the Legislative Assembly passed the Macau national security law based on a withdrawn security legislation previously introduced in Hong Kong. Democracy advocates feared that the bill 's excessively broad scope could lead to abuses, a concern which has been heightened after a number of prominent supporters of democracy in Hong Kong were denied entry into Macau in the run - up to the bill 's passage. Judiciary Main article : Legal system of Macau Seat of the Superior Tribunal of Macau The original framework of the legal system, based largely on the Law of Portugal, the Portuguese civil law system, was preserved after 1999. The territory has its own independent judicial system with a High Court independent of both the local Government and the Central People 's Government of the People 's Republic of China. Judges are selected by a committee and appointed by the chief executive. Foreign judges may serve on the courts. The judicial organs of the Macau are the Public Ministry ; the Courts of First Instance, which are subdivided into the Basic Judicial Court and Administrative Court ; the Court of the Second Instance and the Court of Final Appeal. The legal system of Macau is essentially based on the model of Portuguese law, and is thus part of the family of continental legal systems ( Roman - Germanic ). From 1987 to 1999, this legal system was completely modernized with a view to the transfer of sovereignty from Macau to the People 's Republic of China. Thus, a number of new laws and codes have been adopted, including the Criminal Code ( 1995 ), the Civil Code ( 1999 ), the Commercial Code ( 1999 ), the Criminal Procedure Code ( 1996 ) and the Civil Procedure Code ( 1999 ). Following the transition, major reforms in the legal system continued, such as the use of Chinese language in courts and legislations. From a constitutional point of view, the Macau legal system is characterized by the existence of a text with constitutional force in the Macau SAR, the Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region, promulgated by the National People 's Congress in 1993. As a rule, the national laws of the People 's Republic of China do not apply to Macau, except for those expressly indicated in Annex III of the Basic Law. At present, they are eleven and deal with matters not included in the autonomy of the Special Administrative Region, such as national defense and external relations. The gambling sector, being a fundamental economic activity for Macau, is subject to a very developed regulation, thus having a good and developed right of the game. There is no death penalty or life imprisonment in Macau, as they are not covered by the Macau Criminal Code. Macau Police vehicles Military Main article : People 's Liberation Army Macau Garrison See also : Military of Macau under Portuguese rule and Liaison Office of the Central People 's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region Under Portuguese rule, Macau often served as an expeditionary base to Japan and other regions of East Asia from the 16th century onwards, while maintaining a strong garrison mainly to repel Dutch and mainland Chinese attacks. However, since the allied British settled Hong Kong, the need for a strong military presence in Macau dimmed and it became limited before ceasing in 1974. However, despite having no Portuguese garrison left on the territory, a small security force managed by the local PSP was kept, which proved useful with the escalating triad warfare tensions towards the last decades of Portuguese administration. Also the Capitania dos Portos kept operating a coast guard and the Portuguese airforce kept airfields active until the opening of Macau International Airport in the mid-1990s. In 1999, upon handover to the PRC, a substantial garrison of the People 's Liberation Army was established in the city helping deliver the last blow to the violence perpetrated by the triads, who were weakened by police action and arrests prior to the handover. The garrison remains, with a large portion of the forces stationed in neighbouring Zhuhai as well. According to the Article 14, Macau Basic Law, The Central People 's Government shall be responsible for the defense of the Macao Special Administrative Region. And The Government of the Macao SAR shall be responsible for the maintenance of public order in the Region. International relations Main article : Foreign relations of Macau As a special administrative region ( SAR ) of the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ), Macau 's diplomatic relations and defence are the responsibility of the Central People 's Government of the PRC. Except diplomatic relations and defence, nonetheless, Macau has retained considerable autonomy in all aspects, including economic and commercial relations, customs control. According to Chapter VII of Macau 's basic law, Macau may, on its own, using the name Macau, China or Macao, China, maintain and develop relations and conclude and implement agreements with foreign states and regions and relevant international organisations in the appropriate fields, including the economic, trade, financial and monetary, shipping, communications, tourism, cultural, science and technology, and sports fields. In addition, Macau can participate in international organizations and conferences not limited to states. The Macau government has maintained offices in Lisbon, Taipei, Beijing and in Brussels for the European Union and Geneva for the World Trade Organization. The Special Administrative Region of Macau is member of the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund as well as other international cultural and commercial organizations. Macau is twinned with : Lisbon, Portugal Coimbra, Portugal Porto, Portugal Dili, Timor - Leste São Paulo, Brazil Linköping, Sweden Praia, Cape Verde Brussels, Belgium Maputo, Mozambique Da Nang, Vietnam San Francisco, United States Seoul, South Korea Calcutta, India Luanda, Angola Macau has established different friendship conventions and cultural memorandums with sister cities. Administrative divisions Administrative divisions of Macau Macau is divided into 8 parishes. Parish Chinese Area ( km ) Nossa Senhora de Fátima 花 地 瑪 堂 區 3.2 Santo António 花王 堂 區 São Lázaro 望 德 堂 區 0.6 São Lourenço 風 順 堂 區 1.0 Sé 大堂 區 3.4 Taipa 嘉 模 堂 區 7.6 Cotai 路 氹 填 海區 5.8 Coloane 聖 方 濟 各 堂 區 7.6 Geography Main article : Geography of Macau Macau is situated 60 kilometres ( 37 mi ) southwest of Hong Kong and 145 kilometres ( 90 mi ) from Guangzhou of Mainland China. It also has 41 kilometres ( 25 mi ) of coastline, yet only 310 metres ( 1,000 ft ) of land border with Guangdong of Mainland China. It consists of the Macau Peninsula itself and the islands of Taipa and Coloane, which are now connected by landfill forming Cotai. The peninsula is formed by the Zhu Jiang ( Pearl River ) estuary on the east and the Xi Jiang ( West River ) on the west. It borders the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone in mainland China. The main border crossing between Macau and China is known as the Portas do Cerco ( Barrier Gate ) on the Macau side, and the Gongbei Port of Entry on the Zhuhai side. Lago Nam Van, Macao View of the casinos from Science Center View of Taipa from Science Center East China Sea between Taipa and the Macau Peninsula, Macau Macau Peninsula Aerial view of Macau at night View of the old city in Macau with tenement housing in the foreground View of the old city Macau Peninsula was originally an island, but a connecting sandbar gradually turned into a narrow isthmus. Land reclamation in the 17th century transformed Macau into a peninsula with generally flat terrain, though numerous steep hills still mark the original land mass. Alto de Coloane is the highest point in Macau, with an altitude of 170.6 metres ( 559.7 ft ). With a dense urban environment, Macau has no arable land, pastures, forest, or woodland. In 2015, the Chinese government assigned Macau administrative responsibility for 85 km ( 33 sq mi ) of coastal ocean area. Macau skyline Climate Macau has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification : Cwa ), despite its low elevation coastal location south of the Tropic of Cancer, with average relative humidity between 75 % and 90 %. Similar to much of South China, seasonal climate is greatly influenced by the monsoons, and differences in temperature and humidity between summer and winter are noticeable, though not as great as in mainland China. The average annual temperature of Macau is 22.7 ° C ( 72.9 ° F ). July is the warmest month, the average temperature being 28.9 ° C ( 84.0 ° F ). The coolest month is January, with a mean temperature of 14.5 ° C ( 58.1 ° F ). Located on China 's southern coast, Macau has ample rainfall, with average annual precipitation being 2,120 millimetres ( 83 in ). However, winter is mostly dry due to the influence of the vast Siberian High affecting much of East Asia. Autumn in Macau, from October to November, is sunny and still pleasantly warm with lower humidity. Winter ( December to early March ) is generally mild with temperatures above 13 ° C ( 55 ° F ) most of the time, although they can drop below 8 ° C ( 46 ° F ) at times. Humidity starts to increase from late March. Summer is very warm to hot ( often rising above 30 ° C ( 86 ° F ) during the day ). The hot weather is often followed by heavy rain, thunderstorms and occasional typhoons. Climate data for Macau ( 1981 -- 2010, extremes 1901 -- present ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° C ( ° F ) 29.1 ( 84.4 ) 30.2 ( 86.4 ) 31.5 ( 88.7 ) 35.3 ( 95.5 ) 37.5 ( 99.5 ) 36.9 ( 98.4 ) 38.9 ( 102 ) 38.5 ( 101.3 ) 38.1 ( 100.6 ) 36.0 ( 96.8 ) 34.2 ( 93.6 ) 30.0 ( 86 ) 38.9 ( 102 ) Average high ° C ( ° F ) 18.2 ( 64.8 ) 18.5 ( 65.3 ) 21.0 ( 69.8 ) 24.7 ( 76.5 ) 28.4 ( 83.1 ) 30.3 ( 86.5 ) 31.6 ( 88.9 ) 31.5 ( 88.7 ) 30.4 ( 86.7 ) 28.1 ( 82.6 ) 24.1 ( 75.4 ) 20.1 ( 68.2 ) 25.6 ( 78.1 ) Daily mean ° C ( ° F ) 15.1 ( 59.2 ) 15.8 ( 60.4 ) 18.3 ( 64.9 ) 22.1 ( 71.8 ) 25.6 ( 78.1 ) 27.6 ( 81.7 ) 28.6 ( 83.5 ) 28.4 ( 83.1 ) 27.4 ( 81.3 ) 25.0 ( 77 ) 20.9 ( 69.6 ) 16.8 ( 62.2 ) 22.6 ( 72.7 ) Average low ° C ( ° F ) 12.5 ( 54.5 ) 13.6 ( 56.5 ) 16.2 ( 61.2 ) 20.2 ( 68.4 ) 23.6 ( 74.5 ) 25.6 ( 78.1 ) 26.2 ( 79.2 ) 26.1 ( 79 ) 25.1 ( 77.2 ) 22.6 ( 72.7 ) 18.3 ( 64.9 ) 14.0 ( 57.2 ) 20.3 ( 68.5 ) Record low ° C ( ° F ) − 1.8 ( 28.8 ) 0.4 ( 32.7 ) 3.2 ( 37.8 ) 8.5 ( 47.3 ) 13.8 ( 56.8 ) 18.5 ( 65.3 ) 19.3 ( 66.7 ) 19.0 ( 66.2 ) 13.2 ( 55.8 ) 9.5 ( 49.1 ) 5.0 ( 41 ) 0.0 ( 32 ) − 1.8 ( 28.8 ) Average precipitation mm ( inches ) 26.5 ( 1.043 ) 59.5 ( 2.343 ) 89.3 ( 3.516 ) 195.2 ( 7.685 ) 311.1 ( 12.248 ) 363.8 ( 14.323 ) 297.4 ( 11.709 ) 343.1 ( 13.508 ) 219.5 ( 8.642 ) 79.0 ( 3.11 ) 43.7 ( 1.72 ) 30.2 ( 1.189 ) 2,058.1 ( 81.028 ) Average precipitation days 5.5 9.9 11.7 12.0 13.9 17.7 16.0 16.0 12.3 6.1 4.6 4.5 130.2 Average relative humidity ( % ) 73.8 81.0 84.5 86.1 84.4 84.0 81.8 81.4 77.9 72.4 70.2 68.5 78.8 Mean monthly sunshine hours 127.4 79.4 71.5 85.3 136.4 155.3 223.2 195.4 176.5 192.3 172.2 159.1 1,773.9 Source : Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau Climate data for Macau Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average sea temperature ° C ( ° F ) 18.7 ( 65.7 ) 18.5 ( 65.3 ) 19.7 ( 67.5 ) 22.6 ( 72.7 ) 26.8 ( 80.2 ) 28.5 ( 83.3 ) 29.2 ( 84.6 ) 28.7 ( 83.7 ) 28.3 ( 82.9 ) 26.5 ( 79.7 ) 24.2 ( 75.6 ) 20.9 ( 69.6 ) 24.4 ( 75.9 ) Mean daily daylight hours 11.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 12.0 12.0 11.0 11.0 12.1 Average Ultraviolet index 7 9 11 11 + 11 + 11 + 11 + 11 + 11 9 7 7 9.7 Source : Weather Atlas Economy Main articles : Economy of Macau and Gambling in Macau Seat of the Banco Nacional Ultramarino Employed population by occupation 2007 Occupation no. ( ' 000 ) Senior officials / managers 14.6 Professionals 9.9 Technicians 28.1 Clerks 83.7 Service & sale workers 63.2 Workers in agriculture / fishery 0.8 Craft & similar workers 33.7 Macau 's economy is based largely on tourism. Other chief economic activities in Macau are export - geared textile and garment manufacturing, banking and other financial services. The clothing industry provides about three quarters of export earnings, and the gaming, tourism and hospitality industry is estimated to contribute more than 50 % of Macau 's GDP, and 70 % of Macau government revenue. Macau is a founding member of the WTO and has maintained sound economic and trade relations with more than 120 countries and regions, with European Union and Portuguese - speaking countries in particular ; Macau is also a member of the IMF. The World Bank classifies Macau as a high income economy and the GDP per capita of the region in 2006 was US $28,436. After the 1999 Handover, China eased travel restrictions and visits from the mainland rose rapidly. Together with the liberalization of Macau 's gaming industry in 2001, which induced significant investment inflows, the average growth rate of the economy between 2001 and 2006 was approximately 13.1 % annually. In a World Tourism Organization report of international tourism for 2006, Macau ranked 21st in the number of tourists and 24th in terms of tourism receipts. From 9.1 million visitors in 2000, arrivals to Macau has grown to 18.7 million visitors in 2005 and 22 million visitors in 2006, with over 50 % of the arrivals coming from mainland China and another 30 % from Hong Kong. Starting in 1962, the gambling industry had been operated under a government - issued monopoly license by Stanley Ho 's Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau. The monopoly ended in 2002 and several casino owners from Las Vegas attempted to enter the market. With the opening of the Sands Macao, in 2004 and Wynn Macau in 2006, gambling revenues from Macau 's casinos grew considerably prosperous. In 2007, Venetian Macau, at the time the second ( in 2017 is seventh ) largest building in the world by floor area, opened its doors to the public, followed by MGM Grand Macau. Numerous other hotel casinos, including Galaxy Cotai Megaresort, opened in 2011, and plans for a $3.9 billion complex that will be known as Lisboa Palace is expected to be completed by 2017. In February 2015, the gambling revenue in Macau fell by 48.6 percent from a year earlier to 19.5 billion patacas ( $2.4 billion ), the biggest monthly decline that has ever been recorded. Reasons for this fall of revenue are related to the slowdown that the Chinese economy is having and a corruption crackdown by Chinese officials which has constrained lavish spending. In 2002, the Macau government ended the monopoly system and six casino operating concessions and subconcessions are granted to Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, the partnership of MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho ( daughter of Stanley Ho ), and the partnership of Melco and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited ( PBL ). Today, there are 16 casinos operated by the STDM, and they are still crucial in the casino industry in Macau, but in 2004, the opening of the Sands Macau ushered in the new era. Gambling revenue has made Macau the world 's top casino market, surpassing Las Vegas. The amount of performances performed in Macau has also shown an increasing trend since the early 2010s, including the show House of Dancing Water, concerts, industry trade shows and international art crossovers. Macau is an offshore financial centre, a tax haven, and a free port with no foreign exchange control regimes. The Monetary Authority of Macau regulates offshore finance, while the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute provides services for investment in Macau. In 2007, Moody 's Investors Service upgraded Macau 's foreign and local currency government issuer ratings to ' Aa3 ' from ' A1 ', citing its government 's solid finances as a large net creditor. The rating agency also upgraded Macau 's foreign currency bank deposit ceiling to ' Aa3 ' from ' A1 '. As prescribed by the Macau Basic Law, the government follows the principle of keeping expenditure within the limits of revenues in drawing up its budget, and strives to achieve a fiscal balance, avoid deficits and keep the budget commensurate with the growth rate of its gross domestic product. All financial revenue of the Macau Special Administrative Region shall be managed and controlled by the region itself and shall not be handed over to the Central People 's Government. The Central People 's Government shall not levy any taxes in the Macau Special Administrative Region. Sands Casino, Macau Casino Resort MGM Macau Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge, Macau City of Dreams Monetary system Both sides of 100 patacas issued by BNU on 13 July 1992 In Macau, the unit of currency is the pataca, which is currently pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at a rate of HK $1 = MOP1. 03. The name pataca is a Portuguese word which was applied to the Mexican dollars that were the main circulating coin in the wider region in the second half of the 19th century. In 1894, the pataca was introduced in both Macau and Portuguese Timor as a unit of account for the Mexican dollar and the other silver dollar coins in circulation. However, the pataca was not the official currency when it was first enacted. In 1901, it was decided to grant the Banco Nacional Ultramarino the exclusive rights to issue banknotes denominated in patacas, and in the year 1906, all foreign coins were outlawed. However, the Chinese were suspicious of these paper patacas, being so accustomed to using silver for barter, and as such, the paper patacas circulated at a discount in relation to the silver dollar coins. In 1935, when China and Hong Kong abandoned the silver standard, the Hong Kong dollar was pegged to sterling at the fixed rate of 1 shilling and 3 pence, whereas the pataca was pegged to the Portuguese escudo at a sterling equivalent rate of only 1 shilling. From 1945 to 1951, fractional coins of the pataca were minted for issue in Portuguese Timor ; and, in 1952, similar issues were minted for Macau including an actual pataca coin for the first time. Demographics Main articles : Demographics of Macau and Macau people Macau is the most densely populated region in the world, with a population density of 21,185.28 persons per square kilometre in 2016. Han Chinese make up 95 % of Macau 's population ; another 2 % is of Portuguese and / or mixed Chinese / Portuguese descent, an ethnic group often referred to as Macanese. According to the 2006 by - census, 47 % of the residents were born in mainland China, of whom 74.1 % were born in Guangdong and 15.2 % in Fujian. Meanwhile, 42.5 % of the residents were born in Macau, and those born in Hong Kong, the Philippines and Portugal shared 3.7 %, 2.0 % and 0.3 % respectively. The growth of population in Macau mainly relies on immigrants from mainland China and the influx of overseas workers since its birth rate is one of the lowest in the world. According to The World Factbook, Macau has the fourth highest life expectancy in the world, while its infant mortality rate ranks among the lowest in the world. Language Residents ' usual languages spoken at home Language % Cantonese 85.7 % Mandarin 3.2 % Other Chinese varieties combined 6.7 % Portuguese 0.6 % English 1.5 % Others 2.3 % Many boards and establishments make use of names in Chinese and Portuguese Macau 's official languages are Chinese ( Cantonese ) and Portuguese. Macau still retains its own dialect of Portuguese, called Macanese Portuguese. Other languages -- such as Mandarin, English, and Hokkien -- are spoken by local communities. The Macanese language, a distinctive creole generally known as Patuá, is still spoken by several dozen Macanese. Since Macau has an economy driven by tourism, 14.6 % of the workforce is employed in restaurants and hotels, and 10.3 % in the gambling industry. With the opening of several casino resorts and other major constructions underway, many sectors reportedly experience a shortage of labour, and the government seeks to import labour from neighbouring regions. The number of imported workers stood at a record high of 98,505 in the second quarter of 2008, representing more than 25 % of the labour force in Macau. Some local workers complain about the lack of jobs due to the influx of cheap imported labour. Some also claim that the problem of illegal labour is severe. Another concern is the widening of income inequality in the region. Macau 's Gini coefficient, a popular measure of income inequality where a low value indicates a more equal income distribution, rose from 0.43 in 1998 to 0.48 in 2006. It is higher than those of neighbouring regions, such as mainland China ( 0.447 ), South Korea ( 0.316 ) and Singapore ( 0.425 ). Ruins of St. Paul 's Religion Main article : Religion in Macau Macau residents are endowed with considerable religious tolerance and freedom. Most Chinese in Macau are profoundly influenced by their own tradition and culture. While most are not religiously affiliated, many take part in Chinese folk religion ( Taoism and Confucianism ). According to a survey conducted in 2005, 2007 and 2009, 55 % of the population do not declare religious affiliation, 30 % follows folk faiths, 10 % are adherents of Buddhism or Taoism, and the remaining 5 % are Christians. Most Christians in Macao are members of the Catholic Church, which is organized and structured in Macau in the Diocese of Macau. Infrastructure Education Main article : Education in Macau University of Macau A fifteen - year free education is currently being offered to residents, that includes a three - year kindergarten, followed by a six - year primary education and a six - year secondary education. The literacy rate of the territory is 93.5 %. The illiterates are mainly among the senior residents aged 65 or above ; the younger generation, for example the population aged 15 -- 29, has a literacy rate of above 99 %. Currently, there is only one school in Macau where Portuguese is the medium of instruction, Macau Portuguese School. Macau does not have its own region - wide education system ; non-tertiary schools follow either the British, the Chinese, Portuguese, or the Canadian education system. There are currently 10 tertiary educational institutions in the region, four of them being public. According to a post written in July 2017, The International School of Macao was ranked Macau 's top private school. In 2006, the Programme for International Student Assessment, a worldwide test of 15 - year - old schoolchildren 's scholastic performance coordinated by OECD, ranked Macau as the fifth and sixth in science and problem solving respectively. Nevertheless, educational attainment in Macau is relatively low when compared to other high income countries. According to the 2006 by - census, among the resident population aged 14 and above, only 51.8 % has a secondary education and 12.6 % has a tertiary education. As prescribed by the Basic Law of Macau Chapter VI Article 121, the Government of Macau shall, on its own, formulate policies on education, including policies regarding the educational system and its administration, the language of instruction, the allocation of funds, the examination system, the recognition of educational qualifications, and the system of academic awards so as to promote educational development. The government shall also in accordance with law, gradually institute a compulsory education system. Community organizations and individuals may, in accordance with law, run educational undertakings of various kinds. Healthcare See also : List of hospitals in Macau Kiang Wu Hospital Macau is served by one major public hospital, the Hospital Conde S. Januário, and one major private hospital, the Hospital Kiang Wu, both located in Macau Peninsula, as well as a university associated hospital called Macau University of Science and Technology Hospital in Cotai. In addition to hospitals, Macau also has numerous health centres providing free basic medical care to residents. Consultation in traditional Chinese medicine is also available. None of the Macau hospitals are independently assessed through international healthcare accreditation. There are no western - style medical schools in Macau, and thus all aspiring physicians in Macau have to obtain their education and qualification elsewhere. Local nurses are trained at the Macau Polytechnic Institute and the Kiang Wu Nursing College. Currently there are no training courses in midwifery in Macau. A study by the University of Macau, commissioned by the Macau SAR government, concluded that Macau is too small to have its own medical specialist training centre. The Macau Corps of Firefighters ( Portuguese : Corpo de Bombeiros de Macau ) is responsible for ambulance service ( Ambulância de Macau ). The Macau Red Cross also operates ambulances ( Toyota HiAce vans ) for emergency and non-emergencies to local hospitals with volunteer staff. The organization has a total of 739 uniformed firefighters and paramedics serving from 7 stations in Macau. The Health Bureau in Macau is mainly responsible for coordinating the activities between the public and private organizations in the area of public health, and assure the health of citizens through specialized and primary health care services, as well as disease prevention and health promotion. The Macau Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was established in 2001, which monitors the operation of hospitals, health centres, and the blood transfusion centre in Macau. It also handles the organization of care and prevention of diseases affecting the population, sets guidelines for hospitals and private healthcare providers, and issues licences. As of 2016 Macau healthcare authorities send many patients to Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong in certain cases, and many Macau residents intentionally seek healthcare in Hong Kong because they place more trust in Hong Kong doctors than in Mainland - trained doctors operating in Macau. Transport Main article : Transport in Macau Air Macau Airbus A321 2011 Macau Yacht Fair Ponte de Amizade ( Friendship Bridge ) from Macau Peninsula ( left ) to Taipa Terminal of Macau International Airport ( left ) and a section of the LRT ( right ) In Macau, traffic drives on the left, unlike in either mainland China or Portugal, but like neighbouring Hong Kong. Macau has a well - established public transport network connecting the Macau Peninsula, Cotai, Taipa Island and Coloane Island. Buses and taxis are the major modes of public transport in Macau. Currently three companies -- Transmac, Transportas Companhia de Macau and Macau Nova Era de Autocarros Públicos operate franchised public bus services in Macau. The trishaw, a hybrid of the tricycle and the rickshaw, is also available, though it is mainly for sightseeing purposes. The newest public bus operator, Macau Nova Era, previously Reolian Public Transport Co., entered service on 1 August 2011. This new bus operator operates on the existing routes by Transmac and Transportas Companhia de Macau. Free Casino Shuttle Buses are everywhere in Macau. Due to tourism being the main economic industry in Macau a majority of the larger hotels provide free round trip shuttle bus services which cover the major tourist sites including the airport, Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal and other sites. Some Larger hotels such as Venetian Hotel and Holiday Inn even provide a free shuttle between them. The frequency for each route is usually 15 minutes. The taxi system is noted for having a notoriously poor reputation among tourists and even locals. Common complaints include `` constant overcharging, refusal of passengers when the destination or passenger type does not suit the driver, circuitous routes and even violent behaviour. '' In recent years, the Macau government have been making attempts to hold drivers to a higher standard of service through methods such as undercover police prosecuting drivers who violate the taxi regulations on the spot. The Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal and the Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal provides cross-border transportation services for passengers travelling between Macau and Hong Kong, while the Yuet Tung Terminal in the Inner Harbour serves those travelling between Macau and cities in mainland China, including Shekou and Shenzhen. The Macau Light Rapid Transit or Macau LRT also known as Metro Ligeiro de Macau is a mass transit system in Macau under construction. It will serve the Macau Peninsula, Taipa and Cotai, serving major border checkpoints such as the Border Gate, the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, the Lotus Bridge Border and the Macau International Airport. It is planned to open in 2019. Macau has one active international airport, known as Macau International Airport located at the eastern end of Taipa and neighbouring waters. The airport used to serve as one of the main transit hubs for passengers travelling between mainland China and Taiwan, but now with the introduction of direct flights between those two regions, passenger traffic in this regard has lessened. It is the primary hub for Air Macau. In 2006, the airport handled about 5 million passengers. Culture Historic Centre of Macao UNESCO World Heritage Site Clockwise from top right : Ruins of St. Paul 's ; Casino Lisboa ; St. Joseph Seminary Church ; Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge ; A-Ma Temple ; Guia Fortress ; Macau Tower Criteria Cultural : ii, iii, iv, vi Reference 1110 Inscription 2005 ( 29th Session ) Area 16.1678 ha Buffer zone 106.791 ha Main article : Culture of Macau Remains of the Cathedral of St. Paul, Macau Senado Square The mixing of the Chinese and Portuguese cultures and religious traditions for more than four centuries has left Macau with an inimitable collection of holidays, festivals and events. The biggest event of the year is the Macau Grand Prix in November, when the main streets in Macau Peninsula are converted to a racetrack bearing similarities with the Monaco Grand Prix. Other annual events include Macau Arts festival in March, the International Fireworks Display Contest in September, the International Music festival in October and / or November, and the Macau International Marathon in December. The Lunar Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival and celebration normally takes place in late January or early February. The Pou Tai Un Temple in Taipa is the place for the Feast of Tou Tei, the Earth god, in February. The Procession of the Passion of Our Lord is a well - known Roman Catholic rite and journey, which travels from Saint Austin 's Church to the Cathedral, also taking place in February. A-Ma Temple, which honours the Goddess Matsu, is in full swing in April with many worshippers celebrating the A-Ma festival. In May it is common to see dancing dragons at the Feast of the Drunken Dragon and twinkling - clean Buddhas at the Feast of the Bathing of Lord Buddha. In Coloane Village, the Taoist god Tam Kong is also honoured on the same day. Dragon Boat festival is brought into play on Nam Van Lake in June and Hungry Ghosts ' festival, in late August and / or early September every year. All events and festivities of the year end with Winter Solstice in December. Macau preserves many historical properties in the urban area. The Historic Centre of Macau, which includes some twenty - five historic locations, was officially listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 15 July 2005 during the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Durban, South Africa. Na Tcha Temple, Macau Fisherman 's Wharf Museum of Macau Dom Pedro V theatre A-Ma Temple Cuisine Local cooking in Macau consists of a blend of Cantonese and Portuguese cuisines. Many unique dishes resulted from the spice blends that the wives of Portuguese sailors used in an attempt to replicate European dishes. Its ingredients and seasonings include those from Europe, South America, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, as well as local Chinese ingredients. Typically, Macanese food is seasoned with various spices and flavours including turmeric, coconut milk, cinnamon and bacalhau, giving special aromas and tastes. Famous dishes include minchi, capella, galinha à Portuguesa, galinha à Africana ( African chicken ), bacalhau, Macanese chili shrimps and stir - fry curry crab. Pork chop bun, ginger milk and Portuguese - style egg tart are also very popular in Macau. Sports This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2017 ) 2008 Macau F3 Grand Prix in progress Macau has its own professional football league, the Campeonato da 1a Divisão do Futebol, where the Big Three professional football clubs of Portugal have their own branches : S.L. Benfica de Macau, Sporting Clube de Macau and F.C. Porto de Macau. In general, football ( soccer ) has the greatest popularity in Macau, which has a representative international side, Macau national football team. Another common sport is rink hockey, which is often practised by the Portuguese. The national team of Macau is the most powerful of Asia, always participates in the Rink Hockey World Championship in B category and has many Rink Hockey Asian Championship titles. The last Championship was won in Lishui, China, at the 2016 Asian Roller Hockey Championship. Macau also has a basketball team, which qualified for the Asian Basketball Championship twice. The automobile racing event Macau Grand Prix is arguably the most important international sporting event in Macau, mainly with Formula 3, motorcycle road racing and touring car races. Since 1989, Macau owns a thoroughbred horse racing track called Taipa Racecourse operated by the Macau Jockey Club. The racecourse has a 15,000 seater grandstand. Notable people Stanley Ho, business magnate, father of Macau gambling industry Xian Xinghai ( spelt as Hsien Hsing - hai during his era ), 冼 星海 musician and composer during Sino - Japanese War, known work included Yellow River Cantata Michelle Reis, Hong Kong actress and former Miss Hong Kong Edmund Ho, business leader, chief executive of Macau SAR Jenny Tseng, 甄 妮 Cantonese pop singer and actress in the 1970s and 1980s Ming - Na Wen, 温明娜 TV and movie actress, one of the first Chinese - American actresses with a contract role See also Macau portal China portal Asia portal Geography portal Foreign relations of Macau Index of Macau - related articles List of bridges and tunnels in Macau Macao Science Center Outline of Macau Visa policy of Macau Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Macau Cuiheng New Area, since 31 March 2013, a co-operation pilot zone with Macau Notes References Citations Jump up ^ Macao Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments -- Google Books. p. 49. 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Macau Foundation. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2008. Jump up ^ Chan, 3 -- 4. Jump up ^ Fung, 5 -- 6. ^ Jump up to : Fung, 7. Jump up ^ Joseph Timothy Haydn ( 1885 ). Dictionary of dates, and universal reference. ( With ) ( 18 ed. ). Oxford University. p. 522. MACAO ( in Quang - tong, S. China ) was given to the Portuguese as a commercial station in 1586 ( in return for their assistance against pirates ), subject to an annual tribute, which was remitted in 1863. Here Camoens composed part of the `` Lusiad. '' Jump up ^ The Mirror of literature, amusement, and instruction, Volume 7. London : J. Limbird. 1845. p. 262. The Chinese were obliged to restrict the commerce of Portugal to the port of Macau, in 1631. A partnership was then formed with some Chinese dealers in Canton, who were to furnish exports and take delivery of imports at Macau. This scheme did not suit the Chinese ; they were dissatisfied with their partners, and speedily dissolved the connection. ( Princeton University ). Jump up ^ George Bryan Souza ( 2004 ). The Survival of Empire : Portuguese Trade and Society in China and the South China Sea 1630 -- 1754 ( reprint ed. ). Cambridge University Press. p. 32. ISBN 0 - 521 - 53135 - 7. soldiers 5000 slaves 20000 Chinese 1643 2000 moradores ( Portuguese inhabitants ) 1644 40000 total inhabitants 1648 Jesuits record Jump up ^ Stephen Adolphe Wurm ; Peter Mühlhäusler ; Darrell T. Tryon ( 1996 ). Atlas of languages of intercultural communication in the Pacific, Asia and the Americas. Walter de Gruyter. p. 323. ISBN 3 - 11 - 013417 - 9. The Portuguese population of Macau was never very large. Between the period 1601 -- 1669, a typical cross section of the population consisted of about 600 casados, 100 -- 200 other Portuguese, some 5000 slaves and a growing number of Chinese Jump up ^ Zhidong Hao ( 2011 ). Macau History and Society ( illustrated ed. ). Hong Kong University Press. p. 63. ISBN 988 - 8028 - 54 - 5. This is a time when there were most African slaves, about 5100. In comparison there were about 1000 to 2000 during the later Portuguese rule in Macau. Jump up ^ Historical figures of Macau, by CCTV. Jump up ^ `` The entry `` Catholic '' in Macau Encyclopedia '' ( in Chinese ). Macau Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 December 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2008. Jump up ^ Historical figures of Macau by CCTV Jump up ^ History of the Qing ( 清史 稿 ) Jump up ^ Indrani Chatterjee ; Richard Maxwell Eaton, eds. ( 2006 ). Slavery and South Asian history ( illustrated ed. ). Indiana University Press. p. 238. ISBN 0 - 253 - 21873 - X. Portuguese, `` he concluded ; '' The Portuguese beat us off from Macau with their slaves. `` 10 The same year as the Dutch... an English witness recorded that the Portuguese defense was conducted primarily by their African slaves Jump up ^ Middle East and Africa. Taylor & Francis. 1996. p. 544. ISBN 1 - 884964 - 04 - 4. A miscellaneous assemblage of Portuguese soldiers, citizens, African slaves, friars, and Jesuits managed to withstand the attack. Following this defeat, the Dutch made no further attempts to take Macau, although they continued to harass Jump up ^ Christina Miu Bing Cheng ( 1999 ). Macau : a cultural Janus ( illustrated ed. ). Hong Kong University Press. p. 159. ISBN 962 - 209 - 486 - 4. invaded Macau on 24 June 1622 but was defeated by a handful of Portuguese priests, citizens and African slaves Jump up ^ Steven Bailey ( 2007 ). Strolling in Macau : A Visitor 's Guide to Macau, Taipa, and Coloane ( illustrated ed. ). ThingsAsian Press. p. 15. ISBN 0 - 9715940 - 9 - 0. On June 24, 1622, a Dutch fleet under Captain Kornelis Reyerszoon assembled a landing force of some 800 armed sailors, a number thought more than sufficient to overpower Macau 's relatively weak garrison. Macau 's future as a Dutch colony seemed all but assured, since the city 's... still remained under construction and its defenders numbered only about 60 soldiers and 90 civilians, who ranged from Jesuit priests to African slaves Jump up ^ Ruth Simms Hamilton, ed. ( 2007 ). Routes of passage : rethinking the African diaspora, Volume 1, Part 1. Volume 1 of African diaspora research. Michigan State University Press. p. 143. ISBN 0 - 87013 - 632 - 1. Jan Coen, who had been sent to establish a Dutch base on the China coast, wrote about the slaves who served the Portuguese so faithfully : `` It was they who defeated and drove away our people last year. '' ( the University of California ) Jump up ^ Centro de Estudos Históricos Ultramarinos ( 1968 ). Studia, Issue 23. 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The Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, the Govt. of Macau SAR. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2007. Jump up ^ `` the web site of Hemscott and Empowering Inverstors ''. Hemscott.com. Retrieved 15 November 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Content -- Basic Law of Macau ''. University of Macau. Retrieved 25 February 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Macau Pataca ''. OANDA. Retrieved 3 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Population density -- Persons per sq km 2017 Country Ranks, By Rank, Source : Calculated from the Total Population and Total Area figures reported by the CIA World Factbook 2017 ''. Countries of the World. Retrieved 2 October 2017. ^ Jump up to : Global Results of By - Census 2006. Statistics and Census Service ( DSEC ) of the Macau Government. 2007. Jump up ^ `` Rank Order -- Birth rate ''. The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 10 May 2007. Jump up ^ `` Rank Order -- Infant mortality rate ''. The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 10 May 2007. 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Retrieved 15 January 2008. Jump up ^ Zhidong Hao, 2011. pp. 121 -- 122. Jump up ^ Zheng, VWT ; Wan, PS. Religious beliefs and life experiences of Macao 's residents 澳門 居民 的 宗教 信仰 與 生活 經驗. On : Modern China Studies by Center for Modern China, 2010, v. 17 n. 4, p. 91 - 126. ISSN 2160 - 0295. `` Drawing on empirical data obtained from three consecutive territory - wide household surveys conducted in 2005, 2007, and 2009 respectively, this paper attempts to shed light on the current religious profile of Macao residents. '' Jump up ^ http://www.littlestepsasia.com/macau/articles/learn/top-international-schools-macau Jump up ^ `` PISA 2006 Science Competencies for Tomorrow 's World ''. Retrieved 10 January 2008. Jump up ^ `` Macau Factsheet ''. The Govt. of Macau SAR. Retrieved 13 November 2007. Jump up ^ `` Macau Polytechnic Institute General Information ''. Macau Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved 3 December 2007. Jump up ^ `` Homepage of the College of Nursing and Midwifery ''. College of Nursing and Midwifery, Macau. Retrieved 13 November 2007. ^ Jump up to : Yau, Elaine ( 2016 - 09 - 12 ). `` Why Macau spends millions to send its patients to Hong Kong -- some by air ''. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017 - 04 - 09. - Print title : `` Patients running out '' Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2014 - 12 - 29. Jump up ^ `` The introduction of Health Bureau, Macau SAR ''. The Govt. of Macau SAR. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2007. Jump up ^ `` The policy and functions of the department of health, Macau SAR ''. The Govt. of Macau SAR. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2007. Jump up ^ Macau Yearbook 2007, 453 -- 454. Jump up ^ `` Bizcuits Bad taxis, bad Macau tourism MACAU DAILY TIMES 澳門 每 日 時報 ''. macaudailytimes.com.mo. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Macau 's Taxi Shame - World Gaming Magazine ''. World Gaming Magazine. 2014 - 08 - 31. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 05. Jump up ^ Macau Yearbook 2007, 458. Jump up ^ Chan, 58. Jump up ^ Fung, 198. Jump up ^ Macau Yearbook 2007, 467 -- 468. Jump up ^ `` Grand Prix Macau ''. Macau Grand Prix Committee. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2008. Jump up ^ `` Macau Festivals & Events ''. AsiaRooms.com. Retrieved 4 January 2008. Jump up ^ `` Mostar, Macau and Biblical vestiges in Israel are among the 17 cultural sites inscribed on UNESCO 's World Heritage List ''. UNESCO. Retrieved 5 September 2006. Jump up ^ `` Macanese Cuisine ''. thisisthelife.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2008. Jump up ^ `` Discovering Macau -- fabulous food spice route and early fusion cuisine ''. Discovery.com. Retrieved 7 June 2007. Jump up ^ `` Macau Dining ''. TravelChinaGuide.com. Retrieved 7 June 2007. Sources Books Fung, Bong Yin ( 1999 ). Macau : A General Introduction ( in Chinese ). Joint Publishing ( H.K. ) Co. Ltd. ISBN 962 - 04 - 1642 - 2. Chan, S.S. ( 2000 ). The Macau Economy. Publications Centre, University of Macau. ISBN 99937 - 26 - 03 - 6. Godinho, Jorge ( 2007 ). Macau business law and legal system. LexisNexis, Hong Kong. ISBN 978 - 962 - 8937 - 27 - 1. Government Information Bureau ( 2007 ). Macau Yearbook 2007. Government Information Bureau of the Macau SAR. ISBN 978 - 99937 - 56 - 09 - 5. Further reading Cremer ( Editor ) ( 1988 ). Macau : City of Commerce and Culture. University of Washington Pr. ISBN 0 - 295 - 96608 - 4. CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Berlie, Jean A. ( 1999 ). Macao 2000. Oxford University Press editor, Oxford, United Kingdom. ISBN 0 - 19 - 592074 - 0. Berlie, Jean A. ( 2000 ). Macau 's overview at the turn of the century. St. John 's University Institute of Asian Studies editor, New York. De Pina - Cabral ( 2002 ). Between China and Europe : Person, Culture and Emotion in Macau. Berg Publishers. ISBN 0 - 8264 - 5749 - 5. Eayrs, James ( 2003 ). Macau Foreign Policy and Government Guide. International Business Publications, United States. ISBN 0 - 7397 - 6451 - 9. External links Find more aboutMacauat Wikipedia 's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Wikimedia Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel guide from Wikivoyage Learning resources from Wikiversity Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maps of Macau. Government Portal of the government of Macau Government Information Bureau Macau Yearbook Cultural Affairs Bureau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau General information `` Macau ''. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Macau from UCB Libraries GovPubs Macau at Curlie ( based on DMOZ ) Macau profile from the BBC News Wikimedia Atlas of Macau Country Study : Macau from the United States Library of Congress ( August 2000 ) Dr Howard M Scott `` Macau '' Travel Macau Government Tourist Office Macau City Guide Articles related to Macau Macau articles History Historic structures Fernão Pires de Andrade Charles Elliot Anders Ljungstedt Governors Postal history Military under Portuguese rule Transfer of sovereignty Geography Macau Peninsula Coloane Taipa Cotai UM Hengqin Birds Geocode Municipalities Politics Basic Law Commission Against Corruption Elections Foreign relations Gaming law Legal system Legislative Council Military Municipal Council Municipality of the Islands One country, two systems Political parties ( UGDM ) Sino - Portuguese Joint Declaration Government Administration and Justice Economy and Finance Security Social Affairs and Culture Transport and Public Works Economy Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement ( CEPA ) Companies Hengqin Immigration Monetary Authority Pataca ( currency ) Telecommunications Tourism Canidrome Gambling Individual Visit Scheme Macau Tower Transport Air Airlines Air Macau Airport Ferry Pier Mass transit system Road List of Roads Hong Kong -- Zhuhai -- Macau Bridge Reolian Transmac TCM Culture Cuisine Demographics Education universities Events and festivals Films set in Macau Honours system Languages Cantonese Macanese Portuguese Literature José dos Santos Ferreira Luís de Camões Music Cantopop Opera Names of Macau Religion Science and Culture Centre Scouting Sport Grand Prix Jockey Club Rugby union Women Outline Index Category Portal Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau ( Freguesias of Macau ) Freguesias Macau Peninsula N. Sra. de Fátima Sto. António S. Lázaro Sé S. Lourenço Taipa and Coloane N. Sra. do Carmo S. Francisco Xavier Other zones Cotai Macau New Urban Zone University of Macau Hengqin Defunct subdivisions Municipality of Macau Municipality of das Ilhas Defunct territories Lapa, Dom João, and Montanha Note : The freguesias are purely symbolic there are no political administrative subdivisions in Macau after the formation of Instituto para os Assuntos Cívicos e Municipais in 2002. Provincial - level divisions of the People 's Republic of China Provinces Anhui Fujian Gansu Guangdong Guizhou Hainan Hebei Heilongjiang Henan Hubei Hunan Jiangsu Jiangxi Jilin Liaoning Qinghai Shaanxi Shandong Shanxi Sichuan Yunnan Zhejiang Autonomous regions Guangxi Inner Mongolia Ningxia Tibet Xinjiang Municipalities Beijing Chongqing Shanghai Tianjin Special administrative regions Hong Kong Macau Other Taiwan 1 Note : Taiwan is claimed by the People 's Republic of China but administered by the Republic of China ( see Political status of Taiwan ). Metropolitan cities of China Major Metropolitan regions Jingjinji ( JJJ ) Pearl River Delta ( PRD ) / Yuegang'ao Greater Bay Area Yangtze River Delta ( YRD ) Central Plain ( Zhongyuan ) Chengyu Cross-Strait Western Coast Guanzhong Mid-Southern Liaoning Shandong Peninsula Yangtze River Mid-Reaches ( Yangtze River Valley ) Major Cities National Central Cities Beijing Chongqing Guangzhou Shanghai Tianjin Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong Macau Regional Central Cities Chengdu Nanjing Shenyang Shenzhen Wuhan Xi'an Sub-provincial cities Changchun Chengdu Dalian Guangzhou Hangzhou Harbin Jinan Nanjing Ningbo Qingdao Shenyang Shenzhen Wuhan Xi'an Xiamen Provincial capitals ( Prefecture - level ) Changsha Fuzhou Guiyang Haikou Hefei Kunming Lanzhou Nanchang Shijiazhuang Taiyuan Xining Zhengzhou Taibei Autonomous regional capitals Hohhot Lhasa Nanning Ürümqi Yinchuan Comparatively large cities Anshan Baotou Benxi Datong Fushun Handan Huainan Jilin Luoyang Suzhou Tangshan Qiqihar Wuxi Xuzhou Zibo Prefecture - level cities by Province Hebei Shijiazhuang * Tangshan * Qinhuangdao Handan * Xingtai Baoding Zhangjiakou Chengde Cangzhou Langfang Hengshui Shanxi Taiyuan * Datong * Yangquan Changzhi Jincheng Shuozhou Jinzhong Yuncheng Xinzhou Linfen Lüliang Inner Mongolia Hohhot * Baotou * Wuhai Chifeng Tongliao Ordos Hulunbuir Bayannur Ulanqab Liaoning Shenyang * Dalian * Anshan * Fushun * Benxi * Dandong Jinzhou Yingkou Fuxin Liaoyang Panjin Tieling Chaoyang Huludao Jilin Changchun * Jilin Siping Liaoyuan Tonghua Baishan Songyuan Baicheng Heilongjiang Harbin * Qiqihar * Jixi Hegang Shuangyashan Daqing Yīchun Jiamusi Qitaihe Mudanjiang Heihe Suihua Jiangsu Nanjing * Wuxi * Xuzhou * Changzhou Suzhou * Nantong Lianyungang Huai'an Yancheng Yangzhou Zhenjiang Tàizhou Suqian Zhejiang Hangzhou * Ningbo * Wenzhou Jiaxing Huzhou Shaoxing Jinhua Quzhou Zhoushan Tāizhou Lìshui Anhui Hefei * Wuhu Bengbu Huainan * Ma'anshan Huaibei Tongling Anqing Huangshan Chuzhou Fùyang Sùzhou Lu'an Bozhou Chizhou Xuancheng Fujian Fúzhou * Xiamen * Putian Sanming Quanzhou Zhangzhou Nanping Longyan Ningde Jiangxi Nanchang * Jingdezhen Píngxiang Jiujiang Xinyu Yingtan Ganzhou Jí'ān Yíchun Fǔzhou Shangrao Shandong Jinan * Qingdao * Zibo * Zaozhuang Dongying Yantai Weifang Jĭning Tai'an Weihai Rizhao Laiwu Linyi Dezhou Liaocheng Binzhou Heze Henan Zhengzhou * Kaifeng Luoyang * Pingdingshan Anyang Hebi Xinxiang Jiaozuo Puyang Xuchang Luohe Sanmenxia Nanyang Shangqiu Xinyang Zhoukou Zhumadian Hubei Wuhan * Huangshi Shiyan Yichang Xiangyang Ezhou Jingmen Xiaogan Jinzhou Huanggang Xianning Suizhou Hunan Changsha * Zhuzhou Xiangtan Hengyang Shaoyang Yueyang Changde Zhangjiajie Yiyang Chenzhou Yongzhou Huaihua Loudi Guangdong Guangzhou * Shaoguan Shenzhen * Zhuhai Shantou Foshan Jiangmen Zhanjiang Maoming Zhaoqing Huizhou Meizhou Shanwei Heyuan Yangjiang Qingyuan Dongguan Zhongshan Chaozhou Jieyang Yunfu Guangxi Nanning * Liuzhou Guilin Wuzhou Beihai Fangchenggang Qinzhou Guigang Yùlin Baise Hezhou Hechi Laibin Chongzuo Hainan Haikou * Sanya Sansha Danzhou Sichuan Chengdu * Zigong Panzhihua Luzhou Deyang Mianyang Guangyuan Suining Neijiang Leshan Nanchong Meishan Yibin Guang'an Dazhou Ya'an Bazhong Ziyang Guizhou Guiyang * Liupanshui Zunyi Anshun Bijie Tongren Yunnan Kunming * Qujing Yuxi Baoshan Zhaotong Lìjiang Pu'er Lincang Tibet Lhasa * Shigatse Chamdo Nyingchi Shannan Shaanxi Xi'an * Tongchuan Baoji Xianyang Weinan Yan'an Hanzhong Yúlin Ankang Shangluo Gansu Lanzhou * Jiayuguan Jinchang Baiyin Tianshui Wuwei Zhangye Pingliang Jiuquan Qingyang Dingxi Longnan Qinghai Xining * Haidong Ningxia Yinchuan * Shizuishan Wuzhong Guyuan Zhongwei Xinjiang Ürümqi * Karamay Turpan Hami Taiwan ( none ) Other cities ( partly shown below ) Prefecture - level capitals ( County - level ) ( Inner Mongolia : Ulanhot Xilinhot ) Jiagedaqi, Heilongjiang Enshi, Hubei Jishou, Hunan ( Sichuan : Xichang Kangding Barkam ) ( Guizhou : Xingyi Kaili Duyun ) ( Yunnan : Chuxiong Mengzi Wenshan Jinghong Dali Mangshi Shangri - La Lushui ) ( Gansu : Linxia Hezuo ) ( Qinghai : Yushu Delingha ) ( Xinjiang : Changji Bole Korla Yining Artux Aksu Kashgar Hotan Tacheng Altay ) Province - governed cities ( Sub-prefecture - level ) Jiyuan, Henan ( Hubei : Xiantao Qiánjiang Tianmen Shennongjia ) ( Hainan : Wuzhishan Qionghai Wenchang Wanning Dongfang ) ( Xinjiang - XPCC ( Bingtuan ) cities : Shihezi Aral Tumxuk Wujiaqu Beitun Tiemenguan Shuanghe Kokdala Kunyu ) Former Prefecture - level cities Chaohu, Anhui Yumen, Gansu Dongchuan, Yunnan Shashi, Hubei ( Sichuan : Fuling Wanxian ) ( Jilin : Meihekou Gongzhuling ) Sub-prefecture - level cities ( Prefecture - governed ) Qian'an, Hebei Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia Erenhot, Inner Mongolia Golmud, Qinghai County - level cities by Province Hebei Xinji Jinzhou Xinle Zunhua Qian'an * Wu'an Nangong Shahe Zhuozhou Dingzhou Anguo Gaobeidian Botou Renqiu Huanghua Hejian Bazhou Sanhe Shenzhou Shanxi Gujiao Lucheng Gaoping Jiexiu Yongji Hejin Yuanping Houma Huozhou Xiaoyi Fenyang Inner Mongolia Holingol Manzhouli * Yakeshi Zhalantun Ergun Genhe Fengzhen Ulanhot * Arxan Erenhot * Xilinhot * Liaoning Xinmin Wafangdian Zhuanghe Haicheng Donggang Fengcheng Linghai Beizhen Gaizhou Dashiqiao Dengta Diaobingshan Kaiyuan Beipiao Lingyuan Xingcheng Jilin Yushu Dehui Jiaohe Huadian Shulan Panshi Gongzhuling Shuangliao Meihekou Ji'an Linjiang Fuyu Taonan Da'an Yanji Tumen Dunhua Hunchun Longjing Helong Heilongjiang Shangzhi Wuchang Nehe Hulin Mishan Tieli Tongjiang Fujin Fuyuan Suifenhe Hailin Ning'an Muling Dongning Bei'an Wudalianchi Anda Zhaodong Hailun Jiangsu Jiangyin Yixing Xinyi Pizhou Liyang Changshu Zhangjiagang Kunshan Taicang Qidong Rugao Haimen Dongtai Yizheng Gaoyou Danyang Yangzhong Jurong Jingjiang Taixing Xinghua Zhejiang Jiande Lin'an Yuyao Cixi Fenghua Rui'an Yueqing Haining Pinghu Tongxiang Zhuji Shengzhou Lanxi Yiwu Dongyang Yongkang Jiangshan Wenling Linhai Longquan Anhui Chaohu Jieshou Tongcheng Tianchang Mingguang Ningguo Fujian Fuqing Changle Yong'an Shishi Jinjiang Nan'an Longhai Shaowu Wuyishan Jian'ou Zhangping Fu'an Fuding Jiangxi Leping Ruichang Gongqingcheng Lushan Guixi Ruijin Jinggangshan Fengcheng Zhangshu Gao'an Dexing Shandong Zhangqiu Jiaozhou Jimo Pingdu Laixi Tengzhou Longkou Laiyang Laizhou Penglai Zhaoyuan Qixia Haiyang Qingzhou Zhucheng Shouguang Anqiu Gaomi Changyi Qufu Zoucheng Xintai Feicheng Rongcheng Rushan Laoling Yucheng Linqing Henan Gongyi Xingyang Xinmi Xinzheng Dengfeng Yanshi Wugang Ruzhou Linzhou Weihui Huixian Qinyang Mengzhou Yuzhou Changge Yima Lingbao Dengzhou Yongcheng Xiangcheng Jiyuan * Hubei Daye Danjiangkou Yidu Dangyang Zhijiang Laohekou Zaoyang Yicheng Zhongxiang Yingcheng Anlu Hanchuan Shishou Honghu Songzi Macheng Wuxue Chibi Guangshui Enshi * Lichuan Xiantao * Qianjiang * Tianmen * Hunan Liuyang Liling Xiangxiang Shaoshan Leiyang Changning Wugang Miluo Linxiang Jinshi Yuanjiang Zixing Hongjiang Lengshuijiang Lianyuan Jishou * Guangdong Lechang Nanxiong Taishan Kaiping Heshan Enping Lianjiang Leizhou Wuchuan Gaozhou Huazhou Xinyi Sihui Xingning Lufeng Yangchun Yingde Lianzhou Puning Luoding Guangxi Cenxi Dongxing Guiping Beiliu Jingxi Yizhou Heshan Pingxiang Hainan Wuzhishan * Qionghai * Wenchang * Wanning * Dongfang * Sichuan Dujiangyan Pengzhou Qionglai Chongzhou Jianyang Guanghan Shifang Mianzhu Jiangyou Emeishan Langzhong Huaying Wanyuan Barkam * Kangding * Xichang * Guizhou Qingzhen Chishui Renhuai Xingyi * Kaili * Duyun * Fuquan Yunnan Anning Xuanwei Tengchong Chuxiong * Mengzi * Gejiu Kaiyuan Mile Wenshan * Jinghong * Dali * Ruili Mangshi * Lushui * Shangri - La * Tibet ( none ) Shaanxi Xingping Hancheng Huayin Gansu Yumen Dunhuang Linxia * Hezuo * Qinghai Yushu * Golmud * Delingha * Ningxia Lingwu Qingtongxia Xinjiang Changji * Fukang Bole * Alashankou Korla * Aksu * Artux * Kashgar * Hotan * Yining * Kuytun Korgas Tacheng * Wusu Altay * Shihezi * Aral * Tumxuk * Wujiaqu * Beitun * Tiemenguan * Shuanghe * Kokdala * Kunyu * Taiwan ( none ) Notes * Indicates this city has already occurred above. Direct - controlled Municipalities. Sub-provincial cities as provincial capitals. Separate state - planning cities. Special Economic Zone Cities. Coastal development cities. Prefecture capital status established by Heilongjiang Province and not recognized by Ministry of Civil Affairs. Disputed by Oroqen Autonomous Banner, Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia as part of it. Only administers islands and waters in South China Sea and have no urban core comparable to typical cities in China. The claimed province of Taiwan no longer have any internal division announced by Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC, due to lack of actual jurisdiction. See Template : Administrative divisions of the Republic of China instead. All provincial capitals are listed first in prefecture - level cities by province. Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region ( Yuegang'ao Greater Bay Area ) Pearl River Delta Economic Zone Guangdong Province Guangzhou Panyu Huadu Nansha Zengcheng Conghua Shenzhen Bao'an Zhuhai Hengqin Dongguan Zhongshan Cuiheng Foshan Jiangmen Enping Taishan Kaiping Heshan Huizhou Zhaoqing Sihui Gaoyao Special administrative regions Hong Kong New Territories Kowloon Hong Kong Island Macau Macau Peninsula Taipa Coloane Cotai Major cities along the Pearl River Cities ( from upper reaches to lower reaches ) Major Tributaries Bei River Bei Nanxiong Shaoguan Zhenjiang Wujiang Qujiang Yingde Qingyuan Qingxin Qingcheng Foshan Sanshui waterways with Xi Nanhai Chancheng Sanshui Guangzhou Panyu Nansha merged into the Shiziyang Dong River Dong Heyuan Yuancheng Huizhou Huicheng Dongguan Guangzhou Zengcheng Huangpu merged into the Shiziyang Xi River Xi Gui → Li Guilin Diecai Qixing Xiufeng Xiangshan Yanshan Wuzhou Changzhou Wanxiu merged into the Xi Xun Yong → Yu Zuo Chongzuo Jiangzhou Nanning Jiangnan Xixiangtang merged into the Yong → Yu You Baise Youjiang Nanning Xixiangtang merged into the Yong → Yu tributaries of Zuo & You Nanning Jiangnan Xixiangtang Qingxiu Liangqing Yongning Guigang Qintang Gangnan Gangbei Guiping merged into the Xun Qian Liu Long Hechi Jinchengjiang Yizhou merged into the Liu Rong Liuzhou Liubei Liunan Chengzhong Yufeng merged into the Liu tributaries of Long & Rong merged into the Qian Hongshui Beipan Xuanwei Liupanshui Liuzhi merged into the Hongshui Nanpan Qujing Qilin merged into the Hongshui tributaries of Beipan & Nanpan Heshan Laibin Xingbin merged into the Qian tributaries of Liu & Hongshui Guiping merged into the Xun tributaries of Yong → Yu & Qian Wuzhou Changzhou Longxu Wanxiu merged into the Xi tributaries of Gui → Li & Xun Wuzhou Wanxiu Yunfu Yun'an Zhaoqing Gaoyao Duanzhou Dinghu Foshan Sanshui waterways with Bei Gaoming Nanhai Shunde Heshan Jiangmen Pengjiang waterways with Shiziyang & Lingdingyang Zhongshan Jiangmen Jianghai Xinhui Zhuhai Doumen Jinwan Xiangzhou South China Sea Pearl River Pearl Guangzhou Baiyun Foshan Nanhai Guangzhou Liwan Haizhu Yuexiu Tianhe Huangpu Dongguan Shiziyang Shiziyang Pearl tributary of Dong Dongguan Guangzhou Panyu tributary of Bei Nansha waterways with Xi Lingdingyang Lingdingyang Shiziyang Guangzhou Nansha District waterways with Xi Zhongshan Shenzhen Bao'an District Guangming New District Longhua New District Nanshan District, Shenzhen Futian District Luohu District Yantian District Longgang District Pingshan New District Dapeng New District Zhuhai Xiangzhou Jinwan District Doumen District Hong Kong New Territories Hong Kong Island Kowloon Macau Macau Peninsula Taipa Coloane Cotai Jiuzhouyang Jiuzhouyang Lingdingyang South China Sea Major cities along the Yangtze River Major cities along the Yellow River Countries and dependencies of Asia Sovereign states Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Cyprus Egypt Georgia India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan North Korea South Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Oman Palestine Pakistan Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand East Timor ( Timor - Leste ) Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen States with limited recognition Abkhazia Artsakh Northern Cyprus South Ossetia Taiwan Dependencies and special administrative regions Australia Christmas Island Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands China Hong Kong Macau United Kingdom Akrotiri and Dhekelia British Indian Ocean Territory East Asia Countries China ( Hong Kong Macau ) Japan Korea ( North South ) Mongolia Taiwan Ethnic groups Han Joseon Mongols Yamato Culture Age reckoning Architecture ‎ Art Blepharoplasty Buddhism Calligraphy Chopsticks Cinema Cuisine Cultural sphere Decorative knotwork Dragon Gardens Gothic typeface Han characters Hell money Hip - and - gable roof Languages Literature Mādhyamaka Music Music industry Mythology Philosophy Religion Scripts Seal Sino - Xenic pronunciations Stereotypes Surnames Yellow fever Zodiac Environment East Asia Climate Partnership Monsoon Rainy season Flora Politics and economics China -- Japan -- South Korea trilateral summit Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia Capitalism East Asia Summit East Asian Bureau of Economic Research East Asian Community Four Asian Tigers Human rights in East Asia Ports Stock exchanges History Archaeology Archaeological cultures Bronze Age Iron Age Former countries Sports EAFF East Asian Championship East Asian Football Federation East Asian Games East Asian Judo Championships Education Association of East Asian Research Universities CrossAsia East Asian Bureau of Economic Research East Asian Economic Review East Asia Image Collection East Asian Institute East Asia Law Review East Asian studies Journal of East Asian Studies Ludwigshafen East Asia Institute Society for Cultural Interaction in East Asia Military Horses in East Asian warfare Miyamoto Musashi Sun Tzu The Art of War The Book of Five Rings Science and technology Needham Research Institute Printing Swords Traditional medicine Community of Portuguese Language Countries ( CPLP ) Category Membership Members Angola Brazil Cape Verde East Timor Equatorial Guinea Guinea - Bissau Mozambique Portugal São Tomé and Príncipe Observers Georgia Japan Mauritius Namibia Senegal Turkey Organization CPLP Games Flag TV CPLP ACOLOP Lusophony Games Portuguese - using countries World Trade Organization System Accession and membership Appellate Body Dispute Settlement Body International Trade Centre Chronology of key events Issues Criticism Doha Development Round Singapore issues Quota Elimination Peace Clause Agreements General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Agriculture Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Technical Barriers to Trade Trade Related Investment Measures Trade in Services Trade - Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Government Procurement Information Technology Marrakech Agreement Doha Declaration Bali Package Ministerial Conferences 1st ( 1996 ) 2nd ( 1998 ) 3rd ( 1999 ) 4th ( 2001 ) 5th ( 2003 ) 6th ( 2005 ) 7th ( 2009 ) 8th ( 2011 ) 9th ( 2013 ) 10th ( 2015 ) People Roberto Azevêdo ( Director - General ) Pascal Lamy Supachai Panitchpakdi Alejandro Jara Rufus Yerxa Members Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belize Benin Bolivia Botswana Brazil Brunei Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Cuba Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Fiji Gabon The Gambia Georgia Ghana Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea - Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Iceland India Indonesia Israel Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lesotho Liberia Liechtenstein Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nepal New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Qatar Russia Rwanda St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa Sri Lanka Suriname Swaziland Switzerland Tajikistan Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States Uruguay Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe European Union Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom Special administrative regions of the People 's Republic of China, participates as `` Hong Kong, China '' and `` Macao China ''. Officially the Republic of China, participates as `` Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu '', and `` Chinese Taipei '' in short. Portuguese overseas empire North Africa 15th century 1415 -- 1640 Ceuta 1458 -- 1550 Alcácer Ceguer ( El Qsar es Seghir ) 1471 -- 1550 Arzila ( Asilah ) 1471 -- 1662 Tangier 1485 -- 1550 Mazagan ( El Jadida ) 1487 -- 16th century Ouadane 1488 -- 1541 Safim ( Safi ) 1489 Graciosa 16th century 1505 -- 1541 Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué ( Agadir ) 1506 -- 1525 Mogador ( Essaouira ) 1506 -- 1525 Aguz ( Souira Guedima ) 1506 -- 1769 Mazagan ( El Jadida ) 1513 -- 1541 Azamor ( Azemmour ) 1515 -- 1541 São João da Mamora ( Mehdya ) 1577 -- 1589 Arzila ( Asilah ) Sub-Saharan Africa 15th century 1455 -- 1633 Anguim 1462 -- 1975 Cape Verde 1470 -- 1975 São Tomé 1471 -- 1975 Príncipe 1474 -- 1778 Annobón 1478 -- 1778 Fernando Poo ( Bioko ) 1482 -- 1637 Elmina ( São Jorge da Mina ) 1482 -- 1642 Portuguese Gold Coast 1508 -- 1547 Madagascar 1498 -- 1540 Mascarene Islands 16th century 1500 -- 1630 Malindi 1501 -- 1975 Portuguese Mozambique 1502 -- 1659 Saint Helena 1503 -- 1698 Zanzibar 1505 -- 1512 Quíloa ( Kilwa ) 1506 -- 1511 Socotra 1557 -- 1578 Accra 1575 -- 1975 Portuguese Angola 1588 -- 1974 Cacheu 1593 -- 1698 Mombassa ( Mombasa ) 17th century 1645 -- 1888 Ziguinchor 1680 -- 1961 São João Baptista de Ajudá 1687 -- 1974 Bissau 18th century 1728 -- 1729 Mombassa ( Mombasa ) 1753 -- 1975 Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe 19th century 1879 -- 1974 Portuguese Guinea 1885 -- 1974 Portuguese Congo Part of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1753. Or 1600. A factory ( Anosy Region ) and small temporary coastal bases. Part of Portuguese Guinea from 1879. Part of Portuguese Angola from the 1920s. Middle East ( Persian Gulf ) 16th century 1506 -- 1615 Gamru ( Bandar Abbas ) 1507 -- 1643 Sohar 1515 -- 1622 Hormuz ( Ormus ) 1515 -- 1648 Quriyat 1515 -- ? Qalhat 1515 -- 1650 Muscat 1515 ? -- ? Barka 1515 -- 1633 ? Julfar ( Ras al - Khaimah ) 1521 -- 1602 Bahrain ( Muharraq Manama ) 1521 -- 1529 ? Qatif 1521 ? -- 1551 ? Tarut Island 1550 -- 1551 Qatif 1588 -- 1648 Matrah 17th century 1620 -- ? Khor Fakkan 1621 ? -- ? As Sib 1621 -- 1622 Qeshm 1623 -- ? Khasab 1623 -- ? Libedia 1624 -- ? Kalba 1624 -- ? Madha 1624 -- 1648 Dibba Al - Hisn 1624 ? -- ? Bandar - e Kong Indian subcontinent 15th century 1498 -- 1545 Laccadive Islands ( Lakshadweep ) 16th century Portuguese India 1500 -- 1663 Cochim ( Kochi ) 1501 -- 1663 Cannanore ( Kannur ) 1502 -- 1658 1659 -- 1661 Quilon ( Coulão / Kollam ) 1502 -- 1661 Pallipuram ( Cochin de Cima ) 1507 -- 1657 Negapatam ( Nagapatnam ) 1510 -- 1961 Goa 1512 -- 1525 1750 Calicut ( Kozhikode ) 1518 -- 1619 Portuguese Paliacate outpost ( Pulicat ) 1521 -- 1740 Chaul ( Portuguese India ) 1523 -- 1662 Mylapore 1528 -- 1666 Chittagong ( Porto Grande De Bengala ) 1531 -- 1571 Chaul 1531 -- 1571 Chalé 1534 -- 1601 Salsette Island 1534 -- 1661 Bombay ( Mumbai ) 1535 Ponnani 1535 -- 1739 Baçaím ( Vasai - Virar ) 1536 -- 1662 Cranganore ( Kodungallur ) 1540 -- 1612 Surat 1548 -- 1658 Tuticorin ( Thoothukudi ) 1559 -- 1961 Daman and Diu 1568 -- 1659 Mangalore ( Portuguese India ) 1579 -- 1632 Hugli 1598 -- 1610 Masulipatnam ( Machilipatnam ) 1518 -- 1521 Maldives 1518 -- 1658 Portuguese Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ) 1558 -- 1573 Maldives 17th century Portuguese India 1687 -- 1749 Mylapore 18th century Portuguese India 1779 -- 1954 Dadra and Nagar Haveli East Asia and Oceania 16th century 1511 -- 1641 Portuguese Malacca ( Malaysia ) 1512 -- 1621 Maluku ( Indonesia ) 1522 -- 1575 Ternate 1576 -- 1605 Ambon 1578 -- 1650 Tidore 1512 -- 1665 Makassar 1557 -- 1999 Macau ( China ) 1580 -- 1586 Nagasaki ( Japan ) 17th century 1642 -- 1975 Portuguese Timor ( East Timor ) 19th century Portuguese Macau 1864 -- 1999 Coloane 1851 -- 1999 Taipa 1890 -- 1999 Ilha Verde 20th century Portuguese Macau 1938 -- 1941 Lapa and Montanha ( Hengqin ) 1975 is the year of East Timor 's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, East Timor 's independence was fully recognized. North America & North Atlantic 15th century ( Atlantic islands ) 1420 Madeira 1432 Azores 16th century ( Canada ) 1500 -- 1579 ? Terra Nova ( Newfoundland ) 1500 -- 1579 ? Labrador 1516 -- 1579 ? Nova Scotia South America & Antilles 16th century 1500 -- 1822 Brazil 1534 -- 1549 Captaincy Colonies of Brazil 1549 -- 1572 Brazil 1572 -- 1578 Bahia 1572 -- 1578 Rio de Janeiro 1578 -- 1607 Brazil 1621 -- 1815 Brazil 1536 -- 1620 Barbados 17th century 1621 -- 1751 Maranhão 1680 -- 1777 Nova Colónia do Sacramento 18th century 1751 -- 1772 Grão - Pará and Maranhão 1772 -- 1775 Grão - Pará and Rio Negro 1772 -- 1775 Maranhão and Piauí 19th century 1808 -- 1822 Cisplatina ( Uruguay ) 1809 -- 1817 Portuguese Guiana ( Amapá ) 1822 Upper Peru ( Bolivia ) Coats of arms of Portuguese colonies Evolution of the Portuguese Empire Portuguese colonial architecture Portuguese colonialism in Indonesia Portuguese colonization of the Americas Theory of the Portuguese discovery of Australia Coordinates : 22 ° 10 ′ N 113 ° 33 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 22.167 ° N 113.550 ° E ﻿ / 22.167 ; 113.550 VIAF : 144869371 LCCN : n00020499 GND : 4036791 - 5 SUDOC : 092000231 NDL : 00648292 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Macau&oldid=833173838 '' Categories : Macau 1999 establishments in Macau Chinese - speaking countries and territories Cities in China Former colonies in Asia Former Portuguese colonies Historic Jewish communities Pearl River Delta Populated coastal places in China Port cities and towns in China Portuguese - speaking countries and territories Special administrative regions of China States and territories established in 1999 South China Hidden categories : CS1 Chinese - language sources ( zh ) All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from July 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2010 Webarchive template wayback links Wikipedia indefinitely move - protected pages Use dmy dates from December 2016 Use British English from August 2016 Articles containing Chinese - language text Articles containing Portuguese - language text Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the flag caption or type parameters Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the symbol caption or type parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Articles including recorded pronunciations ( English ) Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2016 All articles containing potentially dated statements Articles containing traditional Chinese - language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from April 2017 Pages using deprecated image syntax Articles needing additional references from December 2017 All articles needing additional references CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list Articles with Curlie links Coordinates on Wikidata Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Articles containing video clips Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikibooks Wikivoyage Languages Acèh Afrikaans አማርኛ Aragonés অসমীয়া Asturianu Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Bikol Central Български Boarisch Bosanski Brezhoneg Català Чӑвашла Cebuano Čeština Corsu Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch ދިވެހިބަސް Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Estremeñu Euskara Eʋegbe فارسی Fiji Hindi Føroyskt Français Frysk Gaeilge Gagauz Gàidhlig Galego 贛 語 Gĩkũyũ ગુજરાતી 客家 語 / Hak - kâ - ngî 한국어 Hausa Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Ido Ilokano বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী Bahasa Indonesia Interlingua Ирон Íslenska Italiano עברית Basa Jawa ಕನ್ನಡ Kapampangan ქართული Қазақша Kinyarwanda Kiswahili Кыргызча Ladino Лезги لۊری شومالی Latina Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Ligure Limburgs Lingála Magyar मैथिली Македонски മലയാളം मराठी მარგალური مصرى Bahasa Melayu Mìng - dĕ̤ng - ngṳ̄ Mirandés Монгол မြန်မာဘာသာ Nederlands नेपाली 日本 語 Нохчийн Norsk Norsk nynorsk Novial Occitan Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی Patois ភាសា ខ្មែរ Picard Polski Português Qaraqalpaqsha Română Runa Simi Русский Scots Shqip Sicilianu සිංහල Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Ślůnski Soomaaliga کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Basa Sunda Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் తెలుగు Tetun ไทย Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Türkmençe Українська اردو ئۇيغۇرچە / Uyghurche Vahcuengh Tiếng Việt 文言 Winaray Wolof 吴语 Yorùbá 粵語 中文 डोटेली Kabɩyɛ 139 more Edit links This page was last edited on 30 March 2018, at 02 : 03. 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Question: macao was a colony of what european country
Answer: Portugal