20th December: Macau

Today is the anniversary of the transfer of Sovereignty of Macau 1999 from Portugal - so here are 10 things you might not know about this area of China.

1. Macau is officially known as the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and is an autonomous territory on the southern coast of China. It was also the first Asian country ever to be colonised, by the Portuguese in the 16th century. It was also the last Asian country to remain a European colony. The last Portuguese governor left in 1999. It was ruled by the Portuguese for 442 years.
2. Macau basically consists of one city. It has no arable land, pastures, forest, or woodland. Its economy is driven by tourism and gambling.
3. And gambling is a big thing. It is the world's biggest gambling market (yes, bigger than Las Vegas) and home to the largest casino in the world, the Venetian Macao, which also happens to be the largest single structure hotel building in Asia and the sixth-largest building in the world by floor area. Macau is the only place in China where you can gamble legally; fifty percent of Macau’s revenue comes from gambling; 20% of its population are employed by the casinos; and there are more than 4 times as many gambling tables per 1,000 residents than hospital beds.
4. Not a gambler? There are other attractions. The Macau Grand Prix is known as one of the most demanding circuits in the world was originally conceived in 1954 as a treasure hunt around the streets of the city. Other annual events include Macau Arts festival in March, the International Fireworks Display Contest in September, the International Music festival in October and/or November, and the Macau International Marathon in December.
5. And if none of that appeals, you can visit the historic centre of Macau, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6. Although both China and Portugal drive on the right, in Macau they drive on the left.
7. The currency is the pataca, which is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also widely accepted there. The pataca evolved from Mexican dollars which were the main currency the second half of the 19th century. In the year 1906, all foreign coins were outlawed, so the only currency in Macau was pataca notes. Macau did not mint its own coins until 1952.
8. Macau has the second highest life expectancy in the world, second only to Monaco (seems that living in a city state beginning with M which has a Grand Prix and where there is gambling, is very good for you); and one of the lowest birth rates in the world. It's also the most densely populated region in the world with a population of around 636,200 living in an area of 30.3 km2 (11.6 sq mi).
9. Alto de Coloane is the highest point in Macau, with an altitude of 170.6 metres (559.7 ft).
10. Before the Portuguese arrived, Macau was known as Haojing "Oyster Mirror" or Jinghai "Mirror Sea". Its current name is thought to come from the A-Ma Temple and the goddess Mazu, goddess of seafarers and fishermen.