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The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China , Portuguese: Região Administrativa Especial de Macau da República Popular da China, short RAEM; Traditional Chinese: ä¸è?¯äººæ°‘共和國澳門特別行政å?€; Simplified Chinese: ä¸å?Žäººæ°‘共和国澳门特别行政区; short form Macau or Macao (澳門, Pinyin: Àomén; also informally known as 馬交; see Names), is a small territory on the southern coast of China. Administered by Portugal until 1999, it was the oldest European colony in China, dating to the 16th century. The administrative power (in Portuguese "potência administrante") over Macau was transferred to the People's Republic of China in 1999, and it is now a Special Administrative Region of the PRC. Macau has played a unique and influential role in relations between China and the West, especially between the late 16th and 19th centuries.
Residents of Macau mostly speak Cantonese natively; Mandarin, Portuguese, and English are also spoken. The Macanese language is a distinctive creole that was spoken by the Macanese, an ethnic group of mixed Asian and Portuguese ancestry. (However, Macanese is also used in the broader sense to describe any permanent resident of Macau.)
Besides historical colonial relics, Macau's biggest attraction is its gambling industry and casinos. Though many forms of gambling are legal here, the most popular game is Pai Gow, played with Chinese dominoes. Gamblers from Hong Kong often take one-day excursions to Macau; ferry service by hydrofoil to and from Hong Kong is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The name "Macau" is thought to be derived from the Templo de A-Má (Temple of A-Ma) (媽閣廟, Cantonese Jyutping: Maa1 Gok3 Miu6, local pronunciation: Maa5 Gok3 Miu6 or Maa5 Gok3 Miu5), a still-existing landmark built in 1448 dedicated to the goddess Matsu. The Chinese name Aomen 澳門 (pinyin: Àomén, Cantonese Jyutping: Ou3 Mun4) means "Inlet Gates". The "gates" refer to two erect gate-like mountains of Nantai (Chinese: å?—å?°; Hanyu Pinyin: Nántái) and Beitai (Chinese: 北å?°; Hanyu Pinyin: BÄ›itái). Alternately, Ao may derive from Macau's previous name Heong San Ou, as it is geographically situated at "Cross' Door". Macau is also known as Hou Keng Ou (壕é?¡æ¾³; pinyin: Haojing'ao; "Oyster-mirror Inlet"), Heong San Ou (香山澳; Xiangshan'ao; "Fragrant-mountain Inlet"), Lin Tou (蓮島; Liandao; "Lotus Island"), as well as "Soda Port" (ç–?æ‰“åŸ ).
While Àomén/Ou3 Mun4 is the traditional Chinese name of the place, it is common among the Cantonese-speaking population of the territory to use the Portuguese name when speaking in Cantonese, pronouncing it Maa3 Gaau1 (Jyutping romanization), occasionally rendering it phonetically as 馬交 in Chinese characters.
The form "Macao" was the original Portuguese spelling, and has been retained in most European languages. In modern Portuguese, the correct spelling is "Macau". During the 20th century, the official spelling "Macau" became more and more common in English-language sources, including most print media.
Since the handover of sovereignty, the government of Macau considers "Macao" the official English spelling of the name, whereas "Macau" remains the official spelling in Portuguese. This is the practice followed in official documents such as passports and immigration forms.
The pinyin transcription Aomen has occasionally been used in English as if it were the official name for Macau. However, this is not the case, as only "Macao" is official in English.
Residents of Macau mostly speak Cantonese natively; Mandarin, Portuguese, and English are also spoken. The Macanese language is a distinctive creole that was spoken by the Macanese, an ethnic group of mixed Asian and Portuguese ancestry. (However, Macanese is also used in the broader sense to describe any permanent resident of Macau.)
Besides historical colonial relics, Macau's biggest attraction is its gambling industry and casinos. Though many forms of gambling are legal here, the most popular game is Pai Gow, played with Chinese dominoes. Gamblers from Hong Kong often take one-day excursions to Macau; ferry service by hydrofoil to and from Hong Kong is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The name "Macau" is thought to be derived from the Templo de A-Má (Temple of A-Ma) (媽閣廟, Cantonese Jyutping: Maa1 Gok3 Miu6, local pronunciation: Maa5 Gok3 Miu6 or Maa5 Gok3 Miu5), a still-existing landmark built in 1448 dedicated to the goddess Matsu. The Chinese name Aomen 澳門 (pinyin: Àomén, Cantonese Jyutping: Ou3 Mun4) means "Inlet Gates". The "gates" refer to two erect gate-like mountains of Nantai (Chinese: å?—å?°; Hanyu Pinyin: Nántái) and Beitai (Chinese: 北å?°; Hanyu Pinyin: BÄ›itái). Alternately, Ao may derive from Macau's previous name Heong San Ou, as it is geographically situated at "Cross' Door". Macau is also known as Hou Keng Ou (壕é?¡æ¾³; pinyin: Haojing'ao; "Oyster-mirror Inlet"), Heong San Ou (香山澳; Xiangshan'ao; "Fragrant-mountain Inlet"), Lin Tou (蓮島; Liandao; "Lotus Island"), as well as "Soda Port" (ç–?æ‰“åŸ ).
While Àomén/Ou3 Mun4 is the traditional Chinese name of the place, it is common among the Cantonese-speaking population of the territory to use the Portuguese name when speaking in Cantonese, pronouncing it Maa3 Gaau1 (Jyutping romanization), occasionally rendering it phonetically as 馬交 in Chinese characters.
The form "Macao" was the original Portuguese spelling, and has been retained in most European languages. In modern Portuguese, the correct spelling is "Macau". During the 20th century, the official spelling "Macau" became more and more common in English-language sources, including most print media.
Since the handover of sovereignty, the government of Macau considers "Macao" the official English spelling of the name, whereas "Macau" remains the official spelling in Portuguese. This is the practice followed in official documents such as passports and immigration forms.
The pinyin transcription Aomen has occasionally been used in English as if it were the official name for Macau. However, this is not the case, as only "Macao" is official in English.
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