Macau

On my trip to Hong Kong I spent a day in neighboring Macau. The city was once a colony of Portugal that was returned to China in 1999. It is both the first and last European colony in China and had over 500 years of Portuguese rule. Today Macau is famous for being the world's number one casino market (Yes, bigger than Las Vegas). It has achieved this status through tough gambling restrictions in neighboring mainland China and Hong Kong. It is a mere hour long ferry ride from Hong Kong to Macau, or if money is burning a hole in your pocket you can make the trip even faster by helicopter.

When you arrive in Macau, all the casinos have buses ready to pick you up. I hitched a ride with MGM

A Portuguese era park in Macau

The Grand Lisboa aka the Grand Pineapple, is the most recognizable landmark in Macau

The Macau tower, the other tall landmark in the city

Macau's old town

The Ruinas de Sao Paulo, the city's most famous historic site

Macau seen from the Fortaleza do Monte

A shrine to the virgin mary at the Fortaleza do Monte

The Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady

Macau at night

CASINOS IN MACAU

The Casinos in Macau are the biggest and most profitable in the world. Macau has two principle casino districts. The first and oldest is near the old town on Macau peninsula. The other is on the Cotai strip, reclaimed land connecting Taipa and Coloane islands. The following pictures are all from casinos on the Macau peninsula.

Casino Lisboa is one of the early casinos in Macau

The Wynn Macau

The Butterfly garden and replica of a town square in Lisbon inside the massive MGM Macau