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macau by the numbers
by Nick Walton
Published in the July-September 2012 issue.
With gargantuan casino complexes set beside historic temples and world-class restaurants, Macau impresses
at every turn.
The tiny former Portuguese territory of Macau continues to turn heads and thrill the senses with its blend of yesteryear and modernity. Visitors to Macau will find there’s much more to do than gamble at the massive casinos, with world-class dining, adrenalin-pumping activities and a rich east-meets-west cultural tapestry to explore.
52,000
In square metres, the size of the Grand Resort Deck at the newly opened Galaxy Macau. The expansive space, with its six swimming pools – including the world’s largest elevated wave pool, which creates waves up to 1.5 metres in height – is the perfect spot for the coming summer months. The pools are wreathed by lush gardens and private beachside cabanas attended by white-gloved waiters. You can even opt to do your daily workout in the open-air gym. The Galaxy is an AU$1.9-billion project that includes restaurants, bars and three unique hotels: Banyan Tree Macau, Hotel Okura and the 1,500-room Galaxy Hotel.
5
Years of planning that went into the production of The House of Dancing Water show at the City of Dreams complex. A further two years of rehearsals followed before the show debuted at a custom-made theatre. The dedicated space boasts the world’s largest commercial swimming pool, which is five times the size of an Olympic pool and acts as a backdrop to an array of death-defying stunts, acrobatics and choreography.
6.12
The length, in kilometres, of the Macau Grand Prix Formula 3 street circuit. The high-octane race is one of the highlights of the ear and is the only street circuit on which both motorcycles and cars race. Because of the design of the circuit, which allows Formula 3 cars to reach their top speed of 275km/hr yet has several tight loops and turns, the Macau Grand Prix is considered one of the most demanding of its kind in the world.
1488
The year Macau’s iconic A-Ma Temple was built in dedication to Matsu, the goddess of fishermen and sailors. The temple’s name is thought to have given birth to that of the city when Portuguese sailors landed nearby and asked the name of the Peninsula. The A-Ma Temple was one of the first places in China to be photographed and is now a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.
87
The number of football pitches that the gold leaf covering Galaxy Macau’s six regal cupolas, located atop the two towers, could cover. Adorned in 24-karat gold, four of the cupolas measure 15 metres in height while the other two measure 24 metres and can be seen from across Macau. The cupolas feature a laser show every 15 minutes, which sees lights projected into the sky in what’s claimed to be the largest display of its kind in the world.
7
The number of “warrior” chefs that were sourced from across China as part of the creation of Golden Flower, one of the region’s best Chinese restaurants. During a two-year search for culinary gurus across China, executive chef Liu Guo Zhu chose his seven sous chefs from the country’s top foodie provinces. Despite the fanfare and the restaurant’s indulgent decor, Golden Flower offers remarkable value, with 11-course set dinners starting at AU$48 per person.
338
The height, in metres, of Macau Tower, home to what’s billed as the world’s highest commercial bungee jump. Located just off Macau’s main casino strip, the waterfront tower features an observation deck, restaurants, theatres and shopping, and was designed primarily by Gordon Moller of CCMBECA architects, modelled on a similar tower in Auckland. Daredevil A.J. Hackett has an operation at the tower’s top, offering walks around the outside ring, bungee jumps and climbs up the mast.
102,566
The number of registered motorcycles in Macau according to a government census in 2009, constituting more than half of all vehicles in the territory. Tiny mopeds and scooters are an extremely common sight in Macau and are especially popular with university students. Scooters are a great way to navigate Macau’s bustling streets, narrow lanes and more distant villages, and several companies offer scooter hire for the day.
51,100
The size, in square metres, of The Venetian Macau’s casino, making it the largest of its kind in the world. Divided into four Chinese-themed gaming areas – the Golden Fish, the Imperial House, the Red Dragon and the Phoenix – the casino boasts more than 3,400 slot machines and 800 tables. The Venetian is also home to the second-largest Venice in the world (after the city in Italy) and features 3,000 guest rooms, 148,645 square metres of retail space, and a 15,000-seat theatre for sporting and entertainment events.
270
In degrees, the view from Sky21, a chic new pan-Asian restaurant, rooftop bar and nightclub in the heart of Macau. Complete with an innovative cocktail menu, wraparound terrace and an invitation-only luxury retail complex, Sky21 is the perfect spot from which to plan your night out on the town.
3
The number of hotels at the newly opened Sands Cotai Central complex, including a Sheraton, a Conrad and the world’s largest Holiday Inn. But there’s more to come: when it’s completed, the complex will boast 5,800 hotel rooms, 20-plus restaurants and bars, 20,000 square metres of meeting space, 100 retail stores and two casinos.
2016
The year the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge is expected to open, linking the three major cities of the Pearl River Delta by road. The longest stretch will be 22.8 kilometres and will include three cable-stayed span bridges. The road is expected to cost in excess of AU$10.7 billion.
360
The number of single malt and blended whiskies offered at the Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge at Galaxy Macau. With plush gentleman’s-club interiors, knowledgeable staff and a fireside ambience, Asia’s only Macallan Whisky Bar features some of Macallan’s rarest drops from Scotland’s whisky-producing areas, including the island of Islay, Speyside and the Highlands, as well as drops from Ireland, the U.S., Canada, Tasmania and Japan. Of course, as the name suggests, this home of Caledonian calm also carries a choice selection of whiskies from Macallan’s own distillery in Aberdeen, including a 1936 cask strength, the Macallan Lalique 57 (sadly, not for sale), members of the Macallan Fine And Rare series, and the Macallan 1945 vintage range, priced at HK$349,587 (around AU$43,210) per bottle. There is also an enviable wine list and a range of whisky-laced cocktails on offer. •
Photographs courtesy of the MGTO and respective hotels..
getting there
Qantas has direct flights from several cities in Australia to Hong Kong. 131-313; qantas.com
Virgin Australia fly from Australia to Hong Kong. 136-789; virginaustralia.com
Cathay Pacific also offers regular direct flights from Australia to Hong Kong. 131-747; cathaypacific.com.au
From Hong Kong, Macau is a one-hour ferry ride with TurboJET. turbojetseaexpress.com.hk
getting around
The following companies offer insightful trips and tours around Macau.
• Creative Holidays. 1300-747-400; creativeholidays.com
• Helen Wong’s Tours. 1300-788-328; helenwongstours.com
• Selective Tours. 1300-760-208; selectivetours.com
• Travel Indochina. 1300-365-355; travelindochina.com.au
• Wendy Wu Tours. 1300-727-998; wendywutours.com.au
when to go
The region’s hot, humid summers (late May to mid-September) are best avoided. September to December is probably best for bearable warmth, although the winter months (December to February) are milder and make exploring much more pleasant.
where to stay
• Banyan Tree Macau. banyantree.com
• City of Dreams Macau. cityofdreamsmacau.com
• Conrad Macao, Sands Cotai Central. sandscotaicentral.com
• Galaxy Macau. galaxymacau.com
• MGM Macau. mgmmacau.com
• The Venetian Macao. venetianmacao.com
• Wynn Macau. wynnmacau.com
where to eat
Golden Flower, at the Wynn, remains one of the best Chinese restaurants around. 853/8986-3663; wynnmacau.com
A newcomer that’s well worth a visit, if only for a drink and the staggering views, is Sky21. 853/2822-2122; sky21.com
further information
Contact the Macau Government Tourist Office for tips on travelling to the city. 61-2/9264-1488; macautourism.gov.mo
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