Macau Attractions Ao Men (An Men, Magao)

Macau (in English often Macao; Chinese Ao Men or An Men, or Magao) was - until 1999 - a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration. It lies 60km/37miles west of Hong Kong, near the outflow of the Canton River (in Chinese Chukiang/Zhujiang) into the South China Sea.

The territory of Macau consists of the Macau peninsula and the islands of Taipa and Coloane to the south. It lies between latitude 22°069 and 22°129 north and longitude 113°349 and 113°359 east, bordered on the north by the People's Republic of China.

The name used, Macau, is derived from A Ma Gao (meaning "Bay of A Ma", the Chinese water-goddess and patroness of seafarers and fishermen). In the 17th century the Portuguese gave Macau the official name of Cidade do Sao Nome de Deus de Macau (City of the Holy Name of God of Macau), with the honorific "Nao há outra mais leal" ("There is none more loyal").

The climate is subtropical, the weather warm to hot, with most rain falling between April and October.