Introduction
Macau has been a focal point of commerce for a long time. The Portuguese arrived in the 16th century and brought the bourgeoning global trade network of the time to a small island hanging onto the coast of China. With trade came prosperity. As of today Macau maintains its place as one of the world’s most open economies – supporting a yearly growth rate of approximately 13% as of 2006. Indeed, from an economic perspective, Macau has much to offer just about any business interested in taking advantage of markets in China and the rest of Asia:

Macau’s corporate tax is not only among the lowest in the region, but also among the lowest in the world. There are no capital gains taxes. Industrial have been suspended for Macau-based enterprises and Stamp taxes have been abolished. There are practically non-existent tariff rates, (none at all between Macau and the PRC) and little if any monetary controls on the flow of currency in and out of the SAR. In terms of finding your potential clients, Macau attracts at least 25 million visitors per year. Taken together, all of these benefits make Macau an extremely attractive base of operations for any company in Asia.

If that isn’t enough to attract you, however, there is always Macau’s history and amalgam of Portuguese and Asian Culture that make it a unique and fascinating backdrop for your day-to-day activities. This mixing of cultures has also inspired its own delicious Macanese cuisine. If you are hungry, rest assured that you may find a restaurant serving whatever style of food you crave

More intrigued by the glitz and energy of nightlife? Macau’s numerous casinos provide an endless array of potentially profitable distractions. Macau has surpassed Las Vegas as the world’s Mecca for gambling, which provides Macau’s government with 80% of its tax revenue.

THE CITY
Macau was once a string of three islands, Macau, Taipa, and Coloane. Over the centuries silt buildup and deliberate land reclamation practices have expanded the total area of the SAR to 23.6km2 and changed the geography drastically. Macau has become a peninsula, while Taipa and Coloane have been connected by a flat swathe of land dedicated to the further development of the Casino industry – the Cotai.

As Macau is not particularly large in terms of area, traffic is light and transportation is relatively easy and convenient. With three bridges connecting Macau peninsula and Taipa, you may travel easily between islands. Plans are in motion for a light rail system.

DOWNTOWN
With the explosion of the economy in recent years, Macau has also experienced an upsurge in residential and commercial development in recent years making the Northern portion of the region one of the most densely populated in the world. Other sectors have experienced rampant growth as well – take shopping, for instance. Macau has become one of the most favored locales for those looking to go on a spending spree as in the city brand name merchandise may be purchased at duty-free prices.

The city’s varied architecture looks into Macau’s colonial past and looks into the future with some of the world’s most avant-garde design. The striking Macao Sky Tower and Macao’s more than 26 casinos are included amongst these marvels of construction. The Sands Macau is the largest casino in the world (by number of tables) and the Venetian is the third largest building in the world (by area). Other casinos include the MGM Grand Macau, The Galaxy Cotai Megaresort, Ponte 16, and Wynn Macau.

Lodging
There is an enormous amount of lodging options available for the traveler in Macao as nearly every casino also provides hotel accommodation. These Casino Hotels are lavishly decorated and offer every amenity that you can imagine. A few well-known hotel groups have also begun to stake a claim – the Westin Resort and Best Western and Mandarin Oriental, to name a few. Prices vary on a weekly basis, with weekends being more expensive than weekdays. Prices are quoted in MOP – Macau’s Pataca currency, though some locations may accept Hong Kong Dollars and Chinese Yuan. When setting out from the hotel by taxi, any of these three currencies are usually acceptable for payment of the fare.

WEATHER/ CLIMATE
Subtropical; humid with mild winters, hot summers: The winter season in Macao covers the months January and February. Cold, dry air from Siberia pushes the temperature down, spawning less precipitation. Year-round, this air is responsible for creating the SAR’s subtropical climate, as in actuality, Macau is geographically located within the Tropic of Cancer.

Spring is marked by a marked increase the temperature and humidity – though beside some occasional wet weather, fog, drizzle and low visibility days, the weather is mainly quite comfortable.

The summer in Macao is longer than the other seasons. The summer is hot and wet, with monsoon weather patterns producing thunderstorms tropical cyclones and heavy rain. The highest records for precipitation, temperature, rainy days and thunderstorms occur from May to September/October.

The autumn begins at October when mainland China begins to cool. Autumn in Macao is very short and the weather is both stable and comfortable with clear sky. By the time November arrives, the temperatures are much cooler. Autumn is regarded as the most comfortable season in Macao.