          |
|
Macau - a unique city
The name "Macau" is derived from the name of a Chinese goddess, popular with seafarers and fishermen, known as A-Ma or Ling Ma.
According to legend, a junk sailing across the South China Sea one clear day found itself in a sudden storm. Everybody on board was about to give up all hope of surviving this natural calamity, when an attractive young woman, who had boarded the ship at the very last minute, stood up and ordered the elements to calm down. Miraculously, the gale winds stopped blowing and the sea became calm. Without further incident, the junk arrived safely at the port of Hoi Keang.
The young woman stepped ashore and walked to the crest of the nearby Barra Hill where, in a glowing halo of light and perfume, she ascended into heaven. On the particular spot where she set foot on land, a temple was built in homage to her.
In the 16th century, when Portuguese sailors landed and asked the name of the place, the natives replied A-Ma-Gao (Bay of A-Ma). So the peninsula was renamed. In modern usage, Amagao was shortened to Macau.
However, Macau has always displayed an atmosphere which made it different from the surrounding areas. Today it is still this mixture of the Chinese and Portuguese cultures harmoniously maintained and developed by its people that makes this place a specific cultural entity.
Macau is a Special Administrative Region of the People? Republic of China since 20 December 1999 and will maintain its social and economical characteristics in accordance to the principle of ?ne country, two systems?
Macau of tiny dimensions possesses the highest population rate in the world but the per capita income is one of the highest in Asia. There is a cosmopolitan atmosphere, tolerant in practices and living experiences, where, as always, Asia meets Europe and where the Mediterranean cultures live side by side with the Chinese one.
History
Situated
on the Southeastern coast of China in the Guangdong Province, Macau is
60 kilometers west of Hong Kong and 145 kilometers south of Guangzhou,
the capital of Guangdong Province. The territory comprises a peninsula
and two islands and the total area is 23.8 square kilometers.
The zone which is nowadays called Macau was at first inhabited by fishermen coming from the China province of Fujin and Guangdong, which used the coves between the islands and harbours in this area in order to repair their ships and to get fresh supplies of drinking water.
Jorge
Alvares became the first Portuguese to set foot in Southern China in 1513and
this visit was followed by the establishment of a number of Portuguese
trading centres in the Pearl River delta. These were eventually consolidated
at Macau, which soon wielded, with the permission of the Emperor of China,
a virtual monopoly on trade between China and Japan and between both nations
and Europe. Besides being the sole commercial entrepot between the two
worlds - a situation which was maintained for many years - Macau served
as a vital base for merchants as well as for Christian missionaries to
China and Japan, an activity which provided the city with some of the
most glorious - and tempestuous - moments in its history.
With the creation of Hong Kong after the first Optium War in 1841, Macau loses its statute of a growing trading centre.
However, Macau has always displayed an atmosphere, which made it different from the surrounding areas.
Today it is still the mixture of the Chinese and Portuguese culture harmoniously maintain and developed by its peoples.
Taipa
I
In
the 18th and early 19th centuries Taipa consisted of two hilly islands
and a protected harbour which provided an anchorage for clipper ships
and Indiamen engaged in trade with China. Smaller vessels would trans-ship
their cargoes of muslim , manufactured goods and opium up the Pearl River
to Canton and return with tea, silk and porcelain for export around the
world. Taipa is now again an international gateway with the Macau International
Airport.
Coloane
When
Macau has gradually become the western trade , the island of Coloane was
a place for sea robbers who preyed on the rich cargoes .It offered coves,
rugged cliffs, large sea caves and densely forested hills .The only visitors
form the mainland were hunters in search of quail and pigeon .The last
pirate was vanquished in 1910.The causeway was built in 1969 and roads
laid around the island .
The two beaches on the island with sport facilities in adjacent parks,
a top quality green for golf ,a Karting Track ,stables where visitors
can rent horses and ride and several hotels and resorts ,offer a huge
range of leisure and entertainment .
