Divided into seven parishes, the Macao Special Administrative province of the People's Republic of China is both an autonomous province and a former Portuguese colony. Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Santo António, and Fátima are the three most significant parishes. Situated 60 kilometers west of Hong Kong by the Pearl River Delta, Macao is an Eastern Asian city bounded to the south and east by the South China Sea. It is 115.3 square kilometers in surface area. Humid subtropical weather characterizes the warm, rainy summers and moderate winters. Due to massive land reclamation, flat plains dominate the landscape. There are more than 682,300 people living there... It is among the world's most densely populated cities. With almost 9 million passengers annually, Macau International Airport (MFM) is the biggest airport. The airport offers connections to locations throughout Asia. Portuguese and Chinese ancestry have blended to create Macanese culture. Buddhism, Christianity, and folk religions are the three primary types of religion. Portuguese, Mandarin, and Cantonese are the official languages. It is governed by Portuguese common law. The form of government is a socialist republic with a decentralized executive-led structure. Xi Jinping, the president of China, is the head of state. Chief Executive Ho Lat Seng is the head of state. Every five years, there are elections, and the Election Committee indirectly chooses the Chief Executive. The Macau Pataca (MOP), the official currency of the region, is now worth 8.05 USD. With an open economy, Macao is the sixth largest economy in East Asia, with a GDP of about $40 billion. The per capita income of its people is $58,931.The services sector alone accounts for the majority of the GDP. The gaming industry is a major contributor to the economy; taxes related to gaming make up more than 75% of government revenue. Major resort city Macao offers a wide range of urban and cultural attractions. It draws tourists both in the summer and winter because of its history and casinos. Its gaming market is seen as being seven times bigger than Las Vegas's. The Macao Tower, the St. Paul's Ruins, Senado Square, A-Ma Temple, Fortaleza do Monte, the marine museum, Guia Fortress, and Coloane Island are a few of the main attractions. It receives over 39.4 million visits from tourists annually. The vast majority of visitors are from China's mainland.
