10 surprising facts about Macau
Macau is a unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures and receives millions of visitors every year. If you’re considering a trip to East Las Vegas, we’ve put together some amazing facts about Macau to get you ready for the holidays.
1. A misunderstanding was the reason for the name Macao
According to historians, the region’s name comes from a misunderstanding between Portuguese sailors and local citizens. When Portuguese sailors first arrived on the island, they asked the locals what its name was. However, the locals misunderstood them and told them the name of the local temple, called “A-Ma-Gau”. Of course, the Portuguese sailors had no idea that they had been told the name of the nearby temple and not the name of the island, they began calling the area “A-Ma-Gau”, hence the current name Macau.
2. The second richest place in the world
It will not be wrong to say that Macau is the biggest beneficiary of its gaming industry. The International Monetary Fund rated the region as the second richest territory/country in the world in October 2017. The territory’s GDP per capita is $114,430. Furthermore, the territory has no public debt and its fiscal reserves amount to $55,000. million in early 2016.
3. The most densely populated region
Other places may seem overcrowded, but the key to Macau’s dense population is its small size. According to statistics, 650,834 people are squeezed into 30.5 square kilometers, making it the most densely populated territory: there are more than 55,500 people per square mile!
And, believe it or not, Macau received a total of 32.6 million tourists.
4. The government pays the locals
Since there are huge annual revenues from casino taxes, the government gives permanent residents of Macau 9,000 patacas (approximately $1,200) and non-permanent residents 5,400 patacas, or $670. Interestingly, the sum is not going to change, and has stayed that way for four years.
5. Macau was the first and only Chinese colony in Europe
Macau, which was leased from Portugal in 1557, remains Europe’s first and last colony in China. China leased their island as a trading post and it became official Portuguese territory in 1887. China finally got its island back in 1999.
Today, the 450 years of Portuguese influence have left a fascinating mark. Both the culture and the architecture are a fusion of the Portuguese and Chinese civilizations. That’s not all: Portuguese is still the official language.
6. The locals speak one of the most endangered languages.
Patuá is a creole language, a mixture of Cantonese and Portuguese, that developed in Macau and became the official language of Macau’s indigenous Eurasian (Macanese) community. As of 2000, an estimated 50 people speak Patua. In 2009, UNESCO classified Patuá as a “critically endangered” language.
In an attempt to preserve the Patuá language and culture of Macau, the locals organize a festival every year where they perform plays in Patuá. The works have subtitles in Chinese, Portuguese and English.
7. Macau Cuisine – the world’s first fusion cuisine
Not surprisingly, since the Portuguese have lived on the island for over 400 years, Macao’s cuisine is considered the world’s first fusion cuisine. Macau cuisine is a combination of Portuguese and Chinese ingredients and cooking techniques. At a traditional restaurant, visitors can try traditional dishes such as minchi and African chicken.
8. He holds a Guinness Record
Macau is a mecca for all adrenaline junkies. There’s a reason extravagant people go to Macau: the island is home to the Guinness World Record holder for the tallest commercial Skyjump on the planet: Macau Tower, with a 764-foot (233m) platform. By the way, Macau Tower is not the highest bungee jump location in the world: Royal Gorge Bridge, Colorado, United States, rises 1,053 feet (321 meters) above the ground, making it the highest bungee jump in the world. .
Even so, Macau attracts more visitors than Colorado9. it is the gaming capital of the world
Another fact about Macau, which is probably not as surprising today as it would have been in 2007, is that Macau generates three times the gambling revenue of Las Vegas. In fact, the casino industry in Macau is flourishing to such an extent that it accounts for almost 80% of the island’s economy.
Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal, making it an attractive location for players from mainland China, Hong Kong and, of course, the rest of the world. There’s a reason Macau is known as the gambling capital of the world: the island’s gambling industry generates $33 billion a year, compared to $939.8 million generated by the Las Vegas gambling industry. More surprisingly, Macau has only 49 casinos, while Las Vegas is home to 135 gambling establishments.
10. Non-alcoholic to relax while you play
Believe it or not, visitors are not served alcohol at gambling establishments in Macau. Instead of offering alcoholic beverages to customers, casino staff in Macau offer tea to customers. However, the forums say that
there are places that serve alcoholic beverages for free to visitors, but they have to ask the pit manager.
The VIP rooms and sections also offer free alcoholic drinks. However, Macau is not like Las Vegas in this matter and since Chinese culture is not accustomed to tipping, there is no incentive to offer free drinks. Still, visitors can consume unlimited amounts of milk, coffee, coke, or tea.
Another surprising fact is that the table games in Macau casinos do not include as much poker, blackjack and roulette; in fact, the most popular table game in Macau casinos is none other than Baccarat.