澳門特別行政區 Região Administrativa Especial de Macau Macau Special Administrative Region
Flag Coat of arms Anthem: March of the Volunteers	Location of Macau
Largest freguesia (population) Freguesia de Nossa Senhora de Fátima Official languages Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)[1] Demonym Macanese Government    -  Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah Establishment    -  Portugal-administered trading post 1557   -  Portuguese colony December 1, 1887   -  Transfer of sovereignty to the PRC December 20, 1999  Area  -  Total 28.6 km² (not ranked) 11.04 sq mi   -  Water (%) 0	Population  -  2007 (1st qtr) estimate 520,400[2] (167th)  -  2000 census 431,000   -  Density 17,310/km² (1st) 44,784/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2006 estimate  -  Total US$17,600 m (99th) GDP (nominal) 2007 estimate  -  Total US$15,997 m (94th)  -  Per capita US$36,357[3]  HDI (2004) ▬0.909[4] (high) (25th) Currency Macanese pataca (MOP) Time zone MST (UTC+8) Internet TLD .mo Calling code +853

The Macau Special Administrative Region, commonly known as Macau or Macao (IPA: /mækaʊ/, traditional Chinese: 澳門; simplified Chinese: 澳门; pinyin: Aòmén; jyutping: ou3 mun4), is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, the other being Hong Kong. Macau lies on the western side of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong province in the north and facing the South China Sea in the east and south.[5] The territory has thriving industries such as textiles, electronics and toys, and a notable tourist industry that boasts a wide range of hotels, resorts, stadiums, restaurants and casinos. This makes it one of the richest cities in the world.[6]

Macau was both the first and the last European colony in China.[7][8] Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 16th century and subsequently administered the region until the handover on December 20, 1999. The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Macau stipulate that Macau operates with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2049, fifty years after the transfer.[9] Under the policy of "one country, two systems", the Central People's Government is responsible for the territory's defense and foreign affairs, while Macau maintains its own legal system, police force, monetary system, customs policy, immigration policy, and delegates to international organisations and events.