Macau 澳门
With a population of about 710,000 people and a land area of 32.9 km2, Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, is one of the most densely populated places in the world.
Macau mainly comprises a small narrow peninsula projecting from the mainland China Guangdong province and 2 islands of Taipa 氹仔 and Coloane 路环 joined by reclaimed land known as Cotai 路氹. The peninsula and the islands are connected by bridges. Most of Macau’s population lives in peninsular Macau. Macau also includes a 1 km2 parcel of land in neighbouring Hengqin 横琴 island that hosts the University of Macau and part of an artificial island to maintain a border checkpoint for the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge 港珠澳大桥.
Macau is located on the southwestern corner of the Pearl River estuary and stands opposite Hong Kong, another Special Administrative Region of China on the southeastern corner of the Pearl River estuary. The 55km long Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge connects Macau and Hong Kong by land. Macau neighbours the Guangdong city of Zhuhai 珠海 to the west and north.
Tourism and gambling are the key components of Macau’s economy. Tourists of Macau predominantly come from Mainland China and Hong Kong because of its proximity to Mainland China and easy access from Hong Kong.
Casino gambling was legalised in Macau in 1962. Casino gaming is illegal in mainland China and Hong Kong, giving Macau a legal monopoly in China. Most Macau casino clients are from mainland China and Hong Kong.
Macau has been developing other revenue sources. Being a city (like other cities such as Hong Kong, Zhuhai 珠海, Shenzhen 深圳, Guangzhou 广州, Foshan 佛山, and Dongguan 东莞) within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area 粤港澳大湾区 where many high technology and manufacturing companies are based and where the Chinese government has been building many new infrastructures in recent years, Macau may just find the opportunities to develop other revenue sources going forward.
The Walk from the Wetland Ecological Pond at Avenida da Praia of Taipa 龍環葡韻濕地生態區 to the Taipa Grande Viewing Platform 大潭山瞭望台
Take the Macau Light Rapid Transit 澳門輕軌系統 to Pai Kok 排角 station. Start the walk from the station in the eastern direction along Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca 望德圣母湾大马路. You will walk past the Vila da Taipa 氹仔牌坊 before reaching the Wetland Ecological Pond at Avenida da Praia of Taipa.
Follow the walking paths in the northern direction by the water and take a stroll through the beautiful flower park of the Dra. Laurinda M. Esparteiro Garden 氹仔十字花園, then walk on the boardwalks of the Wetland Ecological Trail at Avenida da Praia of Taipa 龍環葡韻濕地生態步道.
At the outdoor amphitheatre, exit the boardwalks and head north, and cross Estr. Gov. Nobre de Carvalho 嘉乐庇总督大马路 to take the Taipa Grande Hill Inclined Lift 大潭山斜行升降机 to get up to the Taipa Grande Viewing Platform to enjoy panoramic views of Taipa 氹仔and Cotai 路氹.
The one-way distance from Pai Kok Light Rapid Transit station to Taipa Grande Viewing Platform is approximately 2km.
Want to discover more great walking locations around Perth? Check out the “By the Waters” blogs.
Macau is located on the southwestern corner of the Pearl River estuary and stands opposite Hong Kong, another Special Administrative Region of China on the southeastern corner of the Pearl River estuary. The 55km long Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge connects Macau and Hong Kong by land. Macau neighbours the Guangdong city of Zhuhai 珠海 to the west and north.