Antiques

Clothes

English

Portuguese

Cantonese

Good Morning

Bom dia

Jo san

Good night

Boa Noite

Moun On

Good bye 

Adeus

Joy Gin

Hello

Thank you

Obrigado

Mmm goi

Please

Por favor

Ching

How are you?

Como esta?

Nei ho ma

Where is...?

Bindouh a…?

How much?

Quando custa?

Where is Macau?
The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) is a part of China? territory. It is located on the Southeast coast of China to the western bank of the Pearl River Delta. Bordering on Guangdong Province, it locates 60km from Hong Kong and 145km from the city of Guangzhou.

The Macau Special Administrative Region has an area of 29.2 sq. km, comprised of the Macau Peninsula (with 9.3 sq. km and connected to Mainland China), the islands of Taipa (6.7 sq. km) and Coloane (7.6 sq. km)and the reclaimed area COTAI (5.6 sq. km).

How many people live in Macau?
The total population was estimated to be 549,200 . About 94% are ethnic Chinese, from different provinces, namely Guangdong and Fujian. The remaining 6% includes Portuguese and other regions.

What is Macau money?
The Pataca (MOP$) is divided into 100 avos and it is Macau’s official currency. There are banknotes and coins in the following denominations:
Coins: 10, 20 and 50 avos; 1, 2, 5 and 10 Patacas.
Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Patacas.

By the decision of the Government the Pataca is linked to the Hong Kong dollar (HK$) which is accepted as currency in Macau. The exchange rate is MOP$103.20 = HK$100.00. There is an acceptable variation up to 10%. Roughly 10 Patacas is equivalent to 1 EURO and 8 Patacas is equivalent to 1 US Dollar.

What is Macau language?
Chinese and Portuguese are the official languages, Cantonese being most widely spoken. The official languages are used in government departments in all official documents and communications. English is generally used in trade, tourism and commerce.

How telecommunications work in Macau?
Local calls in Macau are free of charge when made from a private phone. When using a public phone, they cost MOP$1.00. Phone cards can be purchased for MOP$50.00, MOP$100.00 or MOP$150.00 and they can be used as well as coins in public phones located all around the city and the islands. In the busiest areas there are also credit card phones. If you would like to use your mobile phone while in Macau, please contact the information services, dialing 1000(CTM), 1118(Hutchison Telecom) , 1628(SmarTone) or 1888(China Telecom (Macau) Co., Ltd.). Besides, Hutchison Telecom Network is now providing the Mobile Tour Guide Service. Visitors can listen to the voice information service by dialing the Spot Code #83.

What about Macau government?
Macau is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China since 20 December 1999, and, like Hong Kong, benefits from the principle of 'one country, two systems? The tiny SAR is growing in size - with more buildings on reclaimed land - and in the number and diversity of its attractions. The greatest of these continues to be Macau's unique society, with communities from the East and West complementing each other, and the many people who come to visit.

How taxi works?
There are two kinds of taxis: the black with cream roof ones and the yellow ones. The flagfall charge is MOP$13.00 for the first 1600 meters. MOP$1.50 will be added for every 230 meters afterwards. Waiting on passengers' request will be charged for MOP$1.50 for every 60 seconds. There is also radio-taxi-service - tel. (853) 2851 9519, 2893 9939, 8500 0000 & 2828 3283.

There is a MOP$3.00 surcharge for each piece of luggage carried in the boot; MOP$5.00 surcharge for boarding taxi at the Macau Airport or journeys from Macau to Coloane; no surcharge from Macau to Taipa or from the islands to Macau, but between Taipa and Coloane, a MOP$2.00 surcharge applies.

In order to eliminate the language barrier between taxi drivers and passengers, the Macau Government Tourist Office has provided most taxis with a destination guide which includes the names of the most requested destinations in Chinese, Portuguese and English. When used together with a map, this guide will reduce many of the usual misunderstandings.

What documents I need to enter Macau?
All visitors must hold a passport or a valid travel document. If travel arrangements are made through an agent, the visa processing is handled by Macau tour operators.

Visas are required by all visitors except:

a) Nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Czech, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania and the United Kingdom(6 months) for a stay up to 90 days;

b) Nationals of Australia, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America and Uruguay for a stay up to 30 days;

c) The "Hong Kong Identity Card" ,"Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" or "Hong Kong Reentry Permit" holders;

d) Nationals of China with valid Macau entry / depart documents;

e) Holders of Consulate / Diplomatic documents issued by the Macau SAR or Hong Kong SAR;

f) Holders of Diplomatic Passport;

g) Holders of "Laissez Passer" issued by the United Nations; in the course of duty;

h) Holders of travel document issued by the Portuguese authorities for the foreign citizens.

Which are the customs restrictions?

On arrival
Visitors are usually subject only to routine inspections. The importation of firearms without special permission is not allowed as well as other illegal and dangerous items. Drug trafficking is punished by law!

Other items are not restricted nor subject to the importation duties, providing they are carried in reasonable quantities and contents.

On departure
There are no export duties in Macau: antiques, gold, jewelry, radios and cameras among other items are duty free articles.

However, Hong Kong SAR customs authorities will allow visitors, aged 18 or above, one litre of alcoholic liquor and 60 cigarettes or 15 cigars or 75 grammes of other manufactured tobacco into the Hong Kong SAR duty free. Visitors holding Hong Kong Identity Cards must have spent 24 hours or longer outside Hong Kong in order to be qualified for the above duty-free concessions.