Macau is one of the oldest European settlements in Asia. The Portuguese influence is most noticeable in its architecture and the city is filled with contrasts, from the relaxed atmosphere of the street cafes to the vibrant nightlife of the casinos. There are many seaside Portuguese seafood restaurants that attract Hong Kong people to take the ferry for a tantalizing meal.

It is just an hour ferry ride from Hong Kong and located in the Guangdong Province, on the western bank of the Pearl River Delta, south of the Ching Sang Island and connected to the Gongbei District by the "Portas do Cerco" isthmus.

The majority of the population live on the Macau peninsula. The two islands are places where people go to relax, especially Coloane which is the garden of the territory with many parksand greenery . According to the 1998 census, there are 430,549 residents. Chinese, 94.2%, Portuguese 0.9%, others 4.9%. Portuguese and Chinese are the two official languages with Cantonese the most widely spoken. English is Macau's third language and is generally used for trade, tourism and commerce.