What to see in Macau. How to get to Macau

Or maybe drop everything and give up playing. But not to Las Vegas or Monaco, but to the East. In Macau. Nice fresh topic.

What do we know about Macau? For 442 years, Macau was the property of the Portuguese Crown, making it the oldest European colony in East Asia. Well, in 1999 China took the peninsula for itself. Largely due to its proximity to Hong Kong, tourism began to rapidly develop in Macau, essentially becoming the main resort for the business community of China and Singapore. It's time for us to pay attention to Macau.

Why go to Macau?

Macau has a relaxed pace of life and laid-back architecture and an atmosphere of eternal celebration of life: narrow cobbled alleys, large quaint churches, colonial mansions with balconies, open squares and Mediterranean cafes filled with palm readers, caged birds and pipe smokers.
These days, Macau benefits more than ever from trade and tourism, with plans to develop all types of tourism-oriented family business shopping malls, theme parks, towers and bridges, building on the enclave's appeal as a gaming paradise. So visit Macau before its unique Chinese-Portuguese flavor is lost to the crowds from Guangdong.

When to go? Best time to visit Macau

The best season to visit Macau is the so-called autumn: from October to December. At this time, the air humidity level is lowest, there is a lot of sun and the day is celebrated winter solstice. It’s also a good idea to stroll along the streets of “Eastern Portugal” in the spring, during from March to May.
From June to September, subtropical Macau shimmers in hot, humid fog, monsoon thunderstorms pour in, and the chances of encountering a tropical typhoon increase significantly. Winters here are quite cold, it often drizzles, and the sky is covered with a dense veil of gray clouds. But if you are determined to go to Macau in winter, then at least take warm clothes with you, and especially do not come to Macau dressed in shorts and a T-shirt from December to March.
It is worth considering that, regardless of the time of year, hotel rooms are most difficult to find during the weekends, during the Hong Kong holidays, Chinese New Year (late January/early February) and during the Macau Grand Prix in November.

How to get to Macau?

The easiest way to get to Macau is through Hong Kong. From Hong Kong to Macau every 15 minutes from 7.00 to 23.59 from Hong Kong-Macao Pier (3/F Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan) Speed ​​boats depart. Travel time is 55 minutes. The cost of the trip starts from HK$ 151 - during the day and HK$ 185 in the evening (from 17.45). You can travel from Hong Kong to Macau without leaving the airport building and even without going through passport control (a visa is issued upon arrival at the port of Macau). To do this, at Hong Kong airport, you need to follow the signs with the words “Ferry Macao”.

When you reach the ticket office, purchase a ticket if you haven’t purchased it in advance. online, exchange your baggage voucher for a Tufbojet voucher. When purchasing tickets for a speedboat, you must take into account that at least 2 hours must pass from the moment you go down the plane to the ground until you board the boat - the time it takes for Tufbojet service employees to receive and load your boat onto the boat. luggage, and you slowly walk to the pier.
There are also flights from Moscow to Macau by several airlines with connections in Shanghai, Seoul, Beijing, Bangkok and Tokyo.

Search for flights to Hong Kong

Visa to Macau

A visa to Macau is issued upon arrival. The cost of the visa is 100 MOP (Macao pataca), only cash is accepted, you can pay in dollars - $12.5. The visa entitles you to stay in Macau for 30 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after leaving Macau (if you plan to visit Macau, for example, between October 7 and October 20, then your passport must be valid until at least November 21).
During passport control, border authorities may require confirmation of a hotel reservation, return ticket, or proof of sufficient funds at the rate of $60 per day of stay.

Where to live? Best hotels in Macau

In terms of price-quality ratio, Macau hotels are considered one of the best in the world. The hotels were built relatively recently and meet the highest requirements. In this case, the daily cost, for example, , with a good spa center and plasma panels in spacious jacuzzi does not exceed 4,000 rubles for a double room. Good reviews about . The hotel offers not only high service, comfortable rooms and a casino, but also attractive offers. For example, the “Discover Macau” package, the price of which, in addition to accommodation, includes ferry tickets to the airport and a half-day tour of Macau. You must indicate your desire to find out and purchase additional options for your stay in advance when booking a hotel online, in a special order form.

Many will like the five-star on-site City of Dreams in the zone Cotai and his neighbors Hard Rock Macau And Crown Towers Macau. These hotels are chosen by those who do not want to leave the green baize of the casino for a long time for shopping and visiting theaters. In the "City of Dreams" all the pleasures are located under one roof: from boutiques with world brands to a water theater and restaurants.
If casinos are taboo for you, then you should take a closer look at the sparkling shores of Macau to find a former hotel on it Mandarin Oriental - Grand Lapa Macau. This is one of the few five-star hotels in Macau that does not have a casino. But, if you can’t resist the urge to try your luck, you can quietly slip into a neighboring establishment through the shopping center adjacent to both buildings. Or book a room in a charming 17th-century former fortress in the southwest of the peninsula: no casinos, period interiors and complete immersion in the era of the Portuguese colonialists.

Meal'n'Real. Sights of Macau

So, you have arrived on the peninsula in the Pearl River Delta. A bit of applied geography: in the southeastern part is the historical center of Macau, an object world heritage UNESCO, above it rises the 261-meter golden lotus of the building Grand Lisboa Hotel, owned by Hong Kong gaming magnate Stanley Ho, is a handy and eye-catching landmark if you decide to get lost. South of Macau are Taipa Islands And Coloane, with which the peninsula is connected by three bridges. These islands are connected to each other by a strip of artificial land known as Cotai. It is this strip of land that is the Chinese copy Las Vegas Strip: there is even a Venetian complex with internal canals along which gondolas and Chinese junks glide.

In Macau, there is definitely some competition between casinos and temples; their number on the peninsula is approximately the same, as is their popularity. To cleanse the soul in an atmosphere of incense and ask higher power about a successful win, go to (open every day from 7.00 to 18.00, admission is free) on the street Rua de Sao Tiago da Barra, built in XVI century in honor of the goddess of fishermen and sailors A-Ma, after whom the island of Macau - Macao was later named. Climbing up the northern slope of Hill de Barra, visit Moorish barracks or Edificio da Capitania dos Portos(although the most correct name for them would be the Mughal barracks). Within the walls of a neoclassical building on Rua Direita in the 1870s, soldiers of a colonial regiment from Goa were stationed.
Having reached Lilau Square, look into the mandarin's house (located near Lilau Square at 10 Antonio da Silva Lane). This is a traditional Chinese compound where the influential writer and reformer Zhen Guanyin lived in the 19th century.

If you move from the mandarin's house to the northeast, you can very soon find yourself in Jesuit quarter who inhabited Macau in the 16th – 18th centuries. Since then, many churches have remained in the quarter, among which is the neoclassical Church of St. Lawrence(Fung Shun Tang Street. Admission: free. The church is open from 10.00 to 16.00 from Monday to Friday, on Saturdays from 10.00 to 13.00. Closed on Sundays and other holidays), and baroque St. Joseph's Church(Rua Do Seminario). On the other edge square St. Augustine, lined with mosaic pavement, white and green columns rise King Pedro V Theater, the first Western theater in China, built in 1860. At the end of the walk, take a walk along the noisy Senate Square — Largo do Senado, nicknamed “pond with fountains” by local residents thanks to the pavement paved with black and white cobblestones brought to Macau from Portugal.

The best view of the city is from the TV tower Macau Tower (Largo da Torre de Macau) 338 meters high, located at the southernmost point of the peninsula. Entrance costs MOP 88. There, for MOP 2488, you can enjoy six seconds of free flight on the highest bungee in the world, jumping from a height of 233 meters and freezing at a distance of 30 meters from the ground.
In a quiet Koloane village visit the chapel St. Francis Xavier, built in 1928 to house a relic that gives many people goosebumps: the severed hand of the eponymous saint; however, the relic has long been kept in the cathedral St. Joseph. The chapel rises above a picturesque arcade surrounded area Eduardo Marques, which descends to the canal separating Coloane from mainland China. Just like a hundred years ago, you can see oyster catchers on the banks of the canal and watch their hard work.

Historical part Taipa Islands crosses Rua do Cunha, in common parlance simply “food street”. The restaurants and eateries here, adorned with a jumble of illuminated signs, offer Chinese, Cantonese, Portuguese, Italian, French and Korean dishes. Here it is worth looking into museum complex Taipa Houses(Avenida da Praia. Museum complex open to the public from 10.00 to 18.00 every day except Monday. The ticket office closes at 17.30. admission price MOP$5.00, free on Sundays), consisting of five houses, former residences of wealthy Portuguese families. Since 1921, the buildings, painted pastel green, have maintained their unchanged appearance. Once inside, you can get acquainted with the life and culture of their former owners.
While Coloane Island is a rural version of Macau with golf courses and hiking, urban Macau residents are more likely to head to city parks. Elderly gamblers, groups of dancers, tai chi lovers and old men with bird cages in their hands find relaxation in Luis de Camoes garden(open to visitors from 06.00 to 22.00. Address: Camoes Square) And Grotto park, located next to the garden.
In the pagodas Lou Lim Ieoc Garden(Estrada de Adolfo Loureiro. The garden is open to visitors from 6.00 to 21.00), surrounded by a miniature bamboo forest with winding paths and ponds inhabited by turtles, musicians from the amateur Peking Opera theater are rehearsing.

Funicular leaving from the entrance to Flora garden on Avenida Sidonio Pais, will take you to the fortress at the top Guia hill, from the lighthouse which offers a panorama of the old and new parts cities. The funicular starts at 08.00 and ends at 18.00. The fortress was built in the 17th century, but even today its cannons seem to be aimed at the ferry pier below, where tourists from Hong Kong come ashore. The lighthouse, built in 1864, still performs its main function, although its beam has long been lost against the background of the bright lights of the modern city. The fort is open to visitors from 09:00 to 17:30; The church located next to the lighthouse can be accessed from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00-17.00. It is possible to get inside the lighthouse only on May 20 every year. Entry is free everywhere.

Near the ruins Fort Our Lady of Mount St. Paul located (Praceta do Museu de Macau, 112), which features an elaborate parallel exhibition of the area's Chinese and Portuguese history. The museum is open from 10.00 to 18.00 every day except Monday; every 15th day of the month admission is free, on other days the ticket costs HK$15.

A trip to the "Las Vegas of the East" wouldn't be complete without a big, glittering show. The theater is as entertaining as any show in Nevada. The occasionally lackluster plot is more than made up for by the stunts presented, especially when divers plunge into a shape-shifting pool and modern-day Evel Knievels take motorcycles into the arena in the center of the City of Dreams.

Where to eat in Macau? Cafes and restaurants in Macau

Evening street markets offer big choice seafood, and many cafes and restaurants offer Cantonese, Macau, African, Latin American and European cuisine.
The sweet puff pastry tart with egg filling, so revered by Macau residents these days, originated here thanks to the English emigrant Andrew “Lord” Stowe. Be sure to try dessert after enjoying a piece of salted beef and spit-roasted fish, huge selection served by eateries on either side of the narrow alley leading to the cathedral ruins St. Paul(Rua de Sao Paulo). While snacking, explore the ruins of what was once the largest catholic church in Asia. In 1835, the building burned down to the ground, only the stone facade remained. Now, if you have free time and money, to truly enjoy excellent cuisine, you can go to Robuchon a Galera(the only restaurant in Macau with three Michelin stars) in Hotel Lisboa, where you will be offered delicious Wagyu beef, or to a restaurant The Eight, owner of two Michelin stars, located in hotel Grand Lisboa. The restaurant is famous for its traditional cuisine, especially its delicious dim sum.

The best place to enjoy a cocktail, cognac, whiskey or wine is a bar 38 Lounge, located on the 38th floor, behind a glass wall offering breathtaking views of the peninsula. There is also an Italian restaurant Aurora, which has a Michelin star. However, when you go downstairs to the street, do not pass by the cheerful Portuguese diner Antonio (Rua dos Negociantes, 3) in Taipa. Here, the magnificent chef Antonio Coelho will prepare a sausage flambé right next to your table and open a bottle of champagne with a saber. The restaurant's menu offers African chicken, a dish that is one of the pillars of Macau cuisine, which can also be enjoyed in restaurants in Rua do Almirante Sergio.
And on the island of Coloane local residents and tourists from Hong Kong highly appreciate the Portuguese cuisine of this seemingly inconspicuous establishment Fernandos(Baia de Hac Sa).

Shopping in Macau

Casino shopping centers sparkle with branded stores famous designers. But to find something that truly reflects the spirit of Macau, you'll have to delve into the 19th-century antiques shops that line the street with their traditional red shuttered windows. Rua da Felicidade, which was once the city's red light district. Look out for exotic curiosities, costume jewelry, “phoenix rolls” (chopped pork in a sheet of seaweed) and live snakes. The antiques lover's path lies further and winds through the narrow alleys of the village of Coloane around the chapel of St. Francis Xavier.

Macau's star rises in Lately especially quickly - in terms of the number of visitors, this small autonomous part of China even overtook Las Vegas. One of the most famous companies for players visiting Asian Las Vegas Hong Kong Exclusive knows firsthand about the possibilities of spending time in the gaming halls of Macau.
The former Portuguese colony features a fantastic mix of colonial architecture, fine restaurants, but most importantly, 38 (and under construction) casinos to suit every taste. Here you can waste your money in any way convenient for you. In general, the gambling business in Macau can be divided into three various categories: casino games, horse racing and greyhound racing. You can also play several lotteries or bet on the outcome of sporting events.

Excitement for the benefit of the budget

Gambling tourism is the largest source of income, accounting for about 50% of the economy. And despite the seemingly economic crisis, there are no fewer players in Macau casinos - thanks to them, budget revenues from the gambling business last year reached a record value of 33 billion USD, which is 42% more than a year earlier. However, for local analysts, this means a slowdown in growth compared to 2016, during which casino revenues grew by 58%.
The former Portuguese colony is the only place in China where gambling is officially permitted, so visitors are mainly Chinese from the mainland and Hong Kong. With the arrival of large foreign casinos from Las Vegas and Australia in 2007, Macau overtook Las Vegas in terms of gambling revenue.
But while Macau's casino revenue easily beats Las Vegas, the non-gaming component accounts for less than 5%. But in Las Vegas, shows, exhibitions, symposiums and restaurants bring more than half of the revenue into the treasury, making the city less dependent on fluctuations in the economy and the welfare of players. BUT: the sector has been actively developing recently, and you can be sure that here, too, Macau is preparing to catch up and overtake America, opening up more and more opportunities for business meetings, seminars, exhibitions, concerts, etc. every year.

A little history

Gambling in Macau was legalized back in 1847 in order to replenish the budget. At the end of the 19th century, a licensing system for Fan-Tang gambling houses was introduced, and more than two hundred establishments had to pay a government tax.
But the real takeoff of the gambling business occurred in 1962, when the government granted monopoly rights to all types gambling syndicate Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau (STDM). The Syndicate began introducing popular Western games and invested in improving transport links between Macau and Hong Kong, resulting in millions of players coming from Hong Kong every year. When Macau was transferred from Portugal to the People's Republic of China in 1999, the gambling policy did not change (for reference, gambling is officially prohibited in China).
In 2002, the monopoly expired and six concessions were awarded to Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM, an 80% subsidiary of STDM), as well as Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho Chiu-king and Partnership Melco and PBL. STDM now operates sixteen casinos in Macau and they are critical to the gambling industry, but the opening of Sands Macau in 2004 marked a new era.

Macau has thirty-three casinos, including the world's largest, Venetian Macau. Of these, twenty-three are on the Macau Peninsula and ten on Taipa Island. They play blackjack, baccarat, roulette, sic-bo, fan-tan, keno, plus there are a lot slot machines. Poker was only introduced in August 2007 at Galaxy Starworld Casino in the form of electronic tables. And within a few years, Macau casinos were literally gripped by poker fever - tables began to appear in one establishment after another. Today you can play poker at Wynn Macau, Venetian, Hard Rock Casino, StarWorld and Grand Lisboa, but only the Grand Lisboa casino hosts live poker tournaments every weekend.

Gambling and society

High crime rates were one of the biggest problems in the Portuguese colony, but the situation improved after Macau returned to China. With the development of the gambling business, an illegal scheme for obtaining money from casinos, called bate-ficha, appeared, which is used by various mafia triads. The involvement of triads in Macau casinos has social consequences, attracting Chinese gangsters whose deadly battles for profits from racketeering and extortion are a constant headache for the police. Several criminal groups are fighting for a place in the sun, so disputes occur between them from time to time, not limited to verbal skirmishes. Although the situation has improved in recent years, triads still remain. But this does not have any effect on the overall criminal situation - Macau's crime rate is one of the lowest in Asia.

Magnificent seven of the best casinos in Macau

Macau has long been a haven not only for gamblers from Hong Kong and mainland China, but is also attracting more and more new hunters for easy money from all over the world. There are many casinos in Macau, and it is impossible to visit them all in a short trip unless you use the services of an experienced guide, such as those from HKExclusive. We have compiled a list of local casinos that you definitely need to visit, at least just for show, so that you can say with a sense of accomplishment: “I know what Macau is.” From the almost antique Lisboa, Las Vegas' MGM and Wynn to the elegant Galaxy, we hope this short guide to the best casinos in Macau will point you to exactly the place where your money fortune will smile on you.

1. Venetian Casino Resort

The Venetian Macau Hotel and Casino made its intentions loud and clear from the very beginning - it was invited to the opening ceremony famous circus Cirque du Soleil, and one of the first visitors was the Manchester Utd football team in in full force. The main credo of this place is extravagance. And no wonder, considering that the Venetian Macau is the largest casino in the world (even larger than any casino in Las Vegas). Inside this entertainment center is the largest shopping center in the entire region, a luxurious hotel with three thousand rooms and canals with gondolas - you might think that this is the real Venice, except for some reason the Chinese work as gondoliers. What can we say about the most spacious gaming halls in the world. Here, in this mixture of Las Vegas gambling excitement and Italian style in an Asian setting, there is always excitement. For those who want to watch the show and enjoy the fine dining, as well as feed chips from the slot machines dotted around, it's definitely worth staying at least a couple of nights at the Venetian Hotel or the equally chic Four Seasons retreat.

2. City of Dreams

In the City of Dreams there are no gondoliers and gladiators, like competitors - everything here is much more modern. Some of the best hotels in Macau are located on site:
- Hyatt is an excellent place for MICE tourism or participation in, say, the Asia Adult Expo, which is held here.
- Hard Rock Hotel - for those who want to have a blast at daily parties.
- Crown Tower is simply a gorgeous hotel.
The five signature restaurants at City of Dreams are elegant, exclusive and cater to the epicurean. The gaming halls are just as impressive and also some of the largest in the city. Let's not forget one of the most popular nightclubs in Asia - Cubic. And if you want to wear a tuxedo and feel like someone like James Bond, then City of Dreams is the best place to drink your vodka martini at the gaming table.

3. The Sands Macau

This is the first American-style casino in Macau: with live music, free drinks, a buffet table and other attributes a la Las Vegas. Sands is the largest casino in the world. With high standards of service, huge gaming facilities, and a wide range of minimum game bets, this place makes good choice even for casual visitors. For those who play big, Sands offers top-notch service. Downsides: The main gaming floor resembles an airplane hangar and clearly needs more decor, and due to its location near the Hong Kong ferry terminal, this Macau casino gets crowded on weekends.

4. Lisboa

One of Macau's oldest casinos - a veteran compared to its new American relatives, Lisboa until recently looked like an ancient artifact of the colonial era. But, having opened in 2007 after renovation, Lisboa has become brighter in every sense. This casino differs from the Las Vegas style: it does not sparkle with neon and illumination, but is fraught with labyrinths of gaming rooms for experienced players. Lisboa is worth a visit to get a glimpse of the old days.
Address: 2-4 Avendia Lisboa.

5. Wynn

The opening of the Wynn casino in 2006 made a big splash in the rather calm waters of the Macau gambling industry. The establishment is smaller than most of its competitors, although it is now expanding, but it has proven that beauty is in small things. It features stunning design inside and out, the cream of the crop of gamblers from around the world, superb Las Vegas-style service and the highest stakes in town. Typically, even the minimum rates at Wynn are much higher than average.
Address: Avendia da Amizade

6.MGM Grand

MGM Grand is a brand known for its stunning hotel and casino in Macau. Appearance The 28-story building is truly stunning. But it looks even better inside: the MGM Grand Hotel has a luxurious lobby with a beautiful sculpture by Salvador Dali and an equally beautiful banyan tree, boutiques with exclusive goods and the only bar in the world offering whiskey from Macau - they say it's nectar and ambrosia in one bottle.
If the rooms at the MGM Grand are great, the casino services are superb. Here you can throw coins into slot machines or play table games 24 hours a day, and all soft drinks are free. Many MGM Grand guests spend their days walking between their rooms and the casino. Sometimes, however, when you look into any of the nine restaurants with different cuisines, there is EVERYTHING here. And, of course, such little things as spas, cinemas, nightclubs, conference rooms and services for businessmen on the territory of this mini-city.

7. Galaxy Rio Casino

Not the biggest or the best, but one of the nicest casinos in Macau. Galaxy Rio is more sophisticated than its Las Vegas competitors, but its small size gives it an almost intimate feel. Located in the center of Macau, this place attracts many seasoned players. All in all, for an elegant gaming experience, come to Galaxy Rio.
Address: opposite Ho Yin Garden, center.

What do they play in Macau casinos?

Western games

Every decent Macau casino has both slot machines and blackjack tables. Most casinos also offer baccarat, craps and roulette, among other less popular games that some larger casinos usually have. But no casino in Macau offers all five games mentioned at once.

Eastern games

Many of the Eastern games are already familiar because they have found their way into the Western Hemisphere. This is, for example, sic-bo - a game popular in China, but many already know its rules, i.e. it is also known in Europe. Others include keno, fish, shrimp, crab and Chinese poker.

Helpful information

The rules in Macau casinos have relaxed with the arrival of American casinos on the territory. With a more relaxed atmosphere and wider crowd than the shady establishments that once made up the bulk of Macau's casinos, luxury gambling houses like the Wynn and Venetian have become palaces of entertainment with increasingly relaxed rules and dress codes. However, there are a few more rules and general tips to follow:

1. Gambling is allowed from the age of 18 for foreigners.
2. Cameras, laptops and large bags are not allowed into the casino territory - all this should be left in the cloakroom.
3. Dress code may vary: many Macau casinos do not allow flip-flops, shorts or sleeveless blouses/T-shirts, which applies to both women and men. The strictest requirements are in places where the stakes are very high.
4. Legal tender is the Hong Kong dollar, not the Macau pataca.
5. Don't annoy the guards. In many casinos in Europe, arguing with security is quite acceptable, and the law prohibits them from simply throwing a client out the door unless he has gone beyond certain limits of behavior. In Macau, the laws of China apply, and here everything is much stricter. Therefore, to avoid trouble, you should not enter into a discussion with the guards.
6. Find out the rules of the games in advance - many of them are unfamiliar. While they can be fun to play, it's best to familiarize yourself with the rules before you sit down at the table rather than during the game itself.
7. Check that the casino you intend to visit plays your favorite game, because the selection of games is different from the “assortment” in gambling establishments in Las Vegas or Europe.

And finally: take advantage of everything that is offered for free in almost all Macau casinos. These are, at a minimum, non-alcoholic drinks, and in some places you can even take various snacks and alcohol for free. Many people don't take advantage of these benefits because they feel uncomfortable taking something for free. However, this advice will probably be superfluous - such prejudices are alien to our fellow citizens.

U dachas in the game!

Some historical facts: Macau (aka Macau) is located in Guangdong province on the coast of the South China Sea, in the delta of the Pearl River, 60 km southwest of Hong Kong. For almost 450 years it was a Portuguese colony, which largely determined the appearance of the city, its culture and way of life. On December 20, 1999, Macau came under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China. Includes the Macau Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane Islands. Macau is a major tourist destination and annually receives more than 25 million tourists from around the world. The main attraction for them is the casino and related entertainment industry, as well as monuments of Portuguese and Chinese architecture (the bulk of Macau's gross national product comes from gambling and hotel profits). In addition, Macau hosts numerous international sporting events, concerts, festivals, conferences and business meetings.

Macau is an amazing city entertainment centers, which contain hotels, casinos, clubs, shops and much more interesting things. Let's take a look inside some hotels.

1. Hotel "Venice" is one of the most famous and popular hotels in Macau. On August 28, 2007, Las Vegas Sands opened the Venice Hotel in Macau, China, which is like a twin to its sister in Las Vegas.


2. Venice in Macau became the largest casino in the world with 3,400 slot machines and 800 gaming tables. The Venice Hotel of China has more than 3,000 rooms and is the largest hotel in Asia. By total area The Venice complex in Macau ranks 6th in the world in terms of area (980,000 square meters). This is the most ambitious building of the Las Vegas Sands company, which cost the company $1.8 billion.


3. The decorations, architecture, sculpture - amaze the scale of the average person. The feeling that you are not in a hotel, but in a museum.


4.


5. During the day, you can ride gondolas on the water near the hotel. Visit Macau and feel like you are in Venice.


6. In the evening, all boats moor along the bridge.


7.


8. They say that the Venice Hotel in Macau is an exact copy of the hotel in Las Vegas. I can’t judge, I haven’t been to Las Vegas, and it’s unlikely that I will) I’m not a gambling person, and having been to China in Macau, I’m unlikely to visit a similar city in another country again.


9. Conrad, Sheraton and Holliday Inn - a combined three. 3 hotels that flow into one another. We lived at the Sheraton.


10. Sheraton Makao Hotel - lobby.

11. Walking around the hotel, you’re amazed at how many different things the Chinese have fit into one space. Designers apparently worked all over the world to create such masterpieces.


12. Hotel "City of dreams" - gambling and hotel complex located in , in the Cotai region. Built in 2009 and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (the first phase opened in June 2009). It consists of a common podium and four hotel towers (Crown Towers, Hard Rock Hotel and two Grand Hyatt Macau towers). The entrance to the City of dreams hotel struck me to the core. A tunnel with multi-colored lighting and a carpet.


13. Looking ahead, I want to write a separate post about designer chandeliers in Macau hotels. Everywhere there are stores of only the most expensive and most famous brands.


14. Moving from one corridor to another, you find yourself as if in another parallel world.


15. Macau is a city of casinos, shops and entertainment. You don’t have to leave the hotel; the owners of the buildings have taken care of everything.


16. Even palm trees grow in the middle of the hotel to the height of the entire room.


17. Would you like to fly into space? Grand Prize at the casino of the City of dreams hotel.


18. And here is the spaceship.


19. Astronaut suit.


20. Did you order a dragon? Where would China be without a dragon?


21. Another little dragon, so nice and cute, isn’t it?)


24. A lion guarding the entrance to the City of dreams hotel.


25. In November, Macau already had decorated Christmas trees. The Chinese prepare for the New Year in advance.


26.


27. Returning to the Sheraton, I saw an unusual fountain. Splashes fall from above in the form of individual words, symbols and signs, it’s very beautiful, and most importantly, I saw this for the first time in Macau).


28. All corridors and halls are decorated with fountains, lighting, flowers and, of course, restaurants and shops.


29.


30. Entrance to the Conrad Hotel.


31. Dancing light fountains in the cartoon zone for children.


32.


33. The Wynn Hotel is a gambling and hotel complex located in Macau and owned by the American company Wynn Resorts.

Macau day and night

The Chinese are very gambling people. But the entire gambling business is banned in China, with the exception of only one place.

You are very smart, this is Macau. Before the transfer of this territory to China, absolutely the entire gambling business belonged to the legendary Hong Kong billionaire Stanley Ho.

The authorities decided to allow investors from other countries, primarily Americans, here. Large corporations operating in Las Vegas have also entered the Macau market.

Since that time, a period of rapid growth began: dozens of modern hotels and casinos were built here.

The pace is especially impressive: what Las Vegas took decades to do has been done here in years.

Today in Macau there are hotels and casinos that are also present in Las Vegas, for example, the MGM GRAND gaming complex.

It is located in the heart of Macau, surrounded by other hotels.

Like Las Vegas, Macau also has a beautiful fountain show. It passes next to the WYNN hotel.

Currently, Macau has already surpassed Las Vegas in terms of turnover. The world's largest companies continue to invest here. Every year new huge hotels open and the first shows are shown. The volume of construction is impressive.

And take my word for it, if anyone is capable of “building” Las Vegas, then only Macau!

Macau is a city with its own autonomy within China, a de facto independent state. Year after year, it pompously celebrates the founding day of the Chinese People's Republic, but Macau has its own budget, separate from China. Large-scale work aimed at developing the gaming industry has yielded results. And now Macau gambling houses generate 6 times more income than in Las Vegas. So where is it cooler? Let's figure it out together.

Las Vegas vsMacau

The rivalry between Las Vegas and Macau can be seen in almost everything. Many indicators of the city on the coast of the South China Sea are much higher than the achievements of the desert state of Nevada, where the gaming business has been legalized.

A decade ago, tourists from China, Japan, South Korea and others Asian countries frequently visited Las Vegas. But with the development of the gaming industry on the South China coast, it is much easier and cheaper for them to visit Macau. It is worth noting that putting up with such competition for Las Vegas does not mean giving up. The level of various laser shows and entertainment programs remains an order of magnitude higher.

Las Vegas show

Very popular in the gambling world of Las Vegas entertainment programs. Various festivals, award ceremonies in various industries, and premiere screenings of the planet's highest-grossing blockbusters are held annually. Annually popular artists modern stage give concerts, even the famous Circus Du Soleil visited Las Vegas with its show.

Swimming pools in Macau

To achieve high incomes, Macau largely copies the city in the western United States, but also does not forget to take care of having its own special style. Its superiority lies in the presence of comfortable swimming pools. Just look at the unique huge pool with a wave effect, which is located on the roof.

IN Macau has more players?

Main competitive advantage for Macau there is a significant concentration of population on the Asian continent. And in general, all countries of Southeast Asia have a high population density, and the standard of living is gradually increasing. For comparison, the United States is home to about 300 million people, and in China the number of Internet users alone is 30% greater.

Where is it more profitable for Russians to play - in Macau or Las Vegas?

For Russian residents who do not want to wait for local gambling zones to operate fully, Macau seems to be the most attractive playing field. If you compare it with Las Vegas, it doesn’t take much longer, but it’s also cheaper for Russians to get there from the European part of the country. And residents of the Far Eastern part of Russia generally have a clear advantage.

Another advantage of Macau is the ease of obtaining a tourist visa. Without any problems, it is issued at the border at the price of 100 units of local currency, which translated into our monetary unit is kopecks - no more than 500 rubles. To the young, unmarried girls It is worth paying attention to one nuance: when crossing the border, they must have a companion, otherwise they will be denied a visa.

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Las Vegas or Macau? Let's sum it up

Las Vegas has been and continues to be a trendsetter in the gaming industry. All innovative solutions, new rules and big job to combat fraudsters was carried out here. But still, over time, the second world gambling center appeared - Macau. Where it’s cooler is up to gamers, the people for whom these gambling cities work, to decide.

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