A stunning region in China has a population of more than 700,000, with much of the metropolis built on land reclaimed from the sea. Macao, an autonomous region on the country’s south coast, had been a Portuguese colony for hundreds of years and was only handed over to the People’s Republic of China in late 1999.
Gambling in the region was made legal in the 19th century during Portuguese rule, and its said to be the only place in China where casinos are permitted. Its unique status saw it becoming a major destination for gamblers, and Macao city is often referred to as the “Las Vegas of the East” due to its dozens of major casinos and similarly flamboyant architecture. Macao and its Nevada counterpart continue to be two of the biggest gambling cities in the world.
Macao is closely associated with casino magnate Stanley Ho, known as the “King” or “Godfather of gambling in China, who had a monopoly on the region’s casinos over four decades and became one of the world’s richest men.
The region had formerly consisted of two separate islands Taipa and Coloane, but over time the space between them was closed up using a process called infilling, as per The B1M.
The process saw rocks piled into the gap and filled with clay, eventually forming a single peninsula, as per the outlet.
It’s thought to be the most densely populated region in the world, with a population of around 710,000 people over a land area of just 12.7 square miles.
It’s also a major tourist desintation, welcoming 34.93 million visitor arrivals last year, according to preliminary Public Security Police (PSP) data published at the start of the year.
Due to its unique and diverse history, the region is a striking mix of architectural styles.
Here you’ll find neoclassical buildings from the colonial era virant colours, as well as the imposing skyline which features major landmarks like the jaw-dropping 47-floor Grand Lisboa Hotel.
But it also retains reminders of its rich history, and just how intermingled the region’s cultural influences are.
Perhaps the best example is the Na Tcha Temple, a folk religion site built in 1888, which is located close to the Ruins of St. Paul’s, a Jesuit religious complex built in the 17th century. It was later destroyed by a fire in 1835.