CHINA: China Southern Airlines Bans Shark Fin Shipments, Pledges To Support Conservation

China Southern Airlines, the mainland’s biggest carrier, has banned shark fin shipments and promised to actively participate in animal conservation.

The decision is significant as the company is based in Guangzhou, the world’s largest trading hub for the delicacy, and it narrows the options for Chinese importers.

It means that 51 per cent of international airlines, based on seat capacity, have now banned the cargo.

Flag carrier Air China had already banned shark fin, leaving just China Eastern among the big three state-owned airlines yet to declare a position.

Robust campaigning by wildlife activists over the years has also led the nation’s largest shipper and logistics firm, China COSCO Shipping, to come onside.

In a letter to WildAid Hong Kong, China Southern’s vice-president Han Wensheng said the company attached great importance to the issue and had taken immediate action.

The nation’s largest airline by revenue and eighth biggest globally said it had banned shark fin on passenger and cargo flights as of March 1, but the letter was its first public announcement of the policy change.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to the global coalition of shark and marine conservation groups for your constant attention and support to China Southern’s air transport business, Han said.

The airline said it would shoulder its social responsibility and pledged to actively participate in the cause of wild animal and plants conservation.

Also to jointly promote conservation culture and the sustainable development of the human community with the general public.

Environmentalists have long campaigned against the trade in fins, a staple at weddings and banquets saying the harvesting methods are cruel and that shark populations have declined dramatically.

Other carriers making the same commitment include Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways, British Airways, American Airlines, Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

Worldwide, 17 of the 19 biggest shipping lines measured by container capacity have banned shark fin, impacting 71 per cent of the global market.

Notable signatories include Maersk, the world’s biggest, and former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa’s family company Orient Overseas Container Line, better known as OOCL.

Alex Hofford, wildlife campaigner at WildAid Hong Kong, applauded the move.

This particular shark fin airline ban will be hugely impactful for the simple fact that Guangzhou is the world’s largest shark fin trading hub, even eclipsing Hong Kong, he said.

China Southern’s ban will no doubt send a strong message to the many Guangzhou shark fin traders that their business activities are often illegal, but always unethical, immoral, cruel and unsustainable.

Attention will now turn to the United States with the likes of FedEx and United Airlines whose mistreatment of an Asian-American passenger thrust it into the spotlight likely to face growing pressure to change their ways.

More than a dozen protesters descended on a press conference held by FedEx on Thursday to protest about shark fins as the company launched an online service in Hong Kong to tap into the burgeoning e-commerce and online shopping market.

Questions remain on why United States air carriers FedEx and United Airlines still continue to ship shark fin, often illegally, Hofford said.

Air China became first mainland carrier to ban shark fin cargo.

The airline joined more than 30 others worldwide in battle against controversial trade.

Air China Cargo has become the first mainland carrier to ban the transport of shark fin, dealing another blow to the international trade.

The carrier, which is part of Air China and responsible for cargo shipment on freight planes and the airline’s commercial aircraft, did not specify when the policy change would take effect.

Some 36 airlines have now joined the ban globally.

In a statement posted on its website on Friday, the cargo company said it was committed to playing a bigger role in global sustainability.

“We understand the community’s desire to promote responsible and sustainable marine sourcing practices, and this remains important to Air China Cargo’s overall sustainable development goals,” the statement read.

“Therefore, on the issue of shark fin, we reiterate our ‘No Shark Fin’ carriage policy.”

Last year, budget carrier HK Express became the first local carrier to implement a ban, followed in recent months by Cathay Pacific and Dragonair.

Other major airlines observing the ban include British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and American Airlines.

Also in July, mainland China’s biggest shipping and ­logistics company, China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco Shipping), pledged a total ban on shark fin transportation.

The shipping giant is the fourth-largest container operator in the world with a 7.7 per cent market share.

Alex Hofford, a wildlife activist from conservation group WildAid, said Air China’s action to save sharks would be far-reaching.

Scientists estimate that fins from up to 73 million sharks a year are used for shark’s fin soup, with much of the trade in shark fin destined for China, he said.

Air China’s No Shark Fin commitment is therefore hugely significant because, despite government efforts, China including Hong Kong is a country where significant demand for shark’s fin soup still exists.

It’s a bold move and this is likely to have a huge and lasting impact on shark populations and marine ecosystems worldwide, he added.

Hofford said full enforcement of the ban by airlines and shipping lines was vital to ensure its effectiveness in protecting shark populations.

He urged vigilance against deliberate mislabelling of shark fin cargo to stop people from circumventing the ban.

Focus has now turned to mainland China’s other major airlines, especially one of the biggest global carriers by revenue, China Southern Airlines.

The company is based in Guangzhou, an area singled out as a major shark fin trading hub, WildAid said.

According to the group, research suggested that Chinese consumption of shark fin fell by 50 to 70 per cent in recent years.

Hong Kong airlines Cathay Pacific and Dragonair impose total ban on carriage of shark fin.

The two carriers came under increasing pressure from conservationists after they pledged in 2012 to carry fins only from sustainable sources.

Hong Kong’s flagship airline has finally bowed to public pressure by slapping a blanket ban on shark fin being carried on any of its planes.

But Cathay Pacific, the city’s biggest carrier, and its sister ­airline Dragonair have left the door open to a possible U-turn by saying the new policy will be ­subject to review.

The move which will take ­effect immediately comes after budget airline HK Express became the first local carrier to axe shark fin shipments last month.

Cathay has faced sustained pressure from environmentalists, including protests at their check-in desks at Hong Kong International Airport and children petitioning airline executives.

We understand the community’s desire to promote responsible and sustainable marine sourcing practices, and this remains important to Cathay Pacific’s overall sustainable development goals, Cathay said in a statement.

Therefore, on the issue of shark fin, with immediate effect we are happy to agree to ban the carriage. We will continue to review this practice, as we do all our sustainable development policies.

Previously, Cathay chose not to impose an outright ban but instead set up a panel of experts to decide on a case-by-case basis whether each shipment was from a sustainable source.

The policy dates back to 2012, but since then three dozen airlines have gone one step further to implement an outright ban, leaving Cathay exposed to criticism.

Campaigners argue it is often impossible to verify whether cargo is sustainable or not.

The old policy was described by the airline as a more challenging approach than an outright ban.

Cathay said the criticism was unwarranted as it was one of the first airlines to raise awareness of the unsustainability of the global shark fin trade back in 2012.

The government says shark fin imports to Hong Kong dropped by 42 per cent between 2010 and last year to reach 5,717 tonnes. During this period there was also a 72 per cent drop in imports by air to 450 tonnes.

Cathay and Dragonair join British Airways, American Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Emirates in banning shark fin.

Alex Hofford, wildlife campaigner for WildAid, said: A responsible corporation like Cathay Pacific should never be seen to be a link in the supply chain for a criminal trade.

That’s why we are so happy that Cathay has done the right thing by no longer carrying any shark fin or shark products. Shipping sharks by air is not just an issue of sustainability, but ethics and legality.

Only Hong Kong Airlines has yet to establish a position on shark fins.


Tourism Observer

HONG KONG: Typhoon Hato - Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon And Hong Kong Airlines Flights Affected

Hong Kong dug in on Tuesday night for a siege by a storm on track to be one of the worst in recent years, and expected to cripple air travel, as Typhoon Hato barrelled towards the coast of southern China, the city in its path.

As the Observatory prepared to raise the No 8 signal before 5.30am, airlines on Tuesday were already warning of cancellations and ­delays on Wednesday that could turn out to be the worst disruptions since Hong Kong International Airport opened nearly two decades ago.

The Education Bureau announced schools would be closed on Wednesday.

The EDB announces that classes of all day schools are suspended today. If classes of evening schools are required to be suspended, the bureau will make the announcement in due course, the bureau said.

The approach of Hato, the ­Japanese word for pigeon, was packing enough of a punch for China’s national weather authorities to issue their second highest alert for rainstorms and warn of downpours hitting the region.

The Observatory said the structure of Hato remained rather intact and compact, tracking steadily towards the coast of Guangdong. It would be closest to Hong Kong at noon on Wednesday, coming within 100 kilometres of the city, before making landfall in neighbouring Guangdong province.

Hato will pose a considerable threat to Hong Kong, senior scientific officer Queenie Lam Ching-chi said. With an intensity of 120km per hour at its centre, it has all the conditions to develop into a stronger storm.

A higher signal, if the typhoon warranted it, would mean a rare No 10, which has not been issued since the city felt the ferocity of ­Typhoon Vicente in 2012.

By 2am on Wednesday, the typhoon was about 240km southeast of Hong Kong and was forecast to move west-northwest at about 25km per hour ­towards the coast of Guangdong.

The No 3 signal was raised at 6.20pm after a sweltering day ­setting another record for summer temperatures, with meteorologists forecasting winds of up to 117km per hour.

The Airport Authority said flights were operating normally on Tuesday but warned that it could be a different story on Wednesday with severe disruptions, and advised travellers to contact their airlines before going to the airport.

At least 320 flights operated by Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon and Hong Kong Airlines, scheduled to take off or land between 6am and 5pm on Wednesday, have been cancelled. The storm could be at its peak during those hours.

Hundreds more flights to and from the city, and across the ­region, were also expected to be cancelled due to Hato.

Wind speed and direction are severely impacting flight operations, and are forecast to do so throughout Wednesday regardless of the typhoon signal level, Cathay Pacific said as it announced today’s cancellations.

The last major storm to cause major travel chaos in Hong Kong was Typhoon Nida, in 2016. It affected 1,000 flights.

Across the city yesterday, people rushed to supermarkets for food and supplies before heading home to batten down the hatches.

A mother of a two-year-old girl, surnamed Chan, snapped up instant noodles, drinks, and even tissue papers to prepare for the typhoon. We are mainly worried that supermarkets could be closed during signal No 8, said Chan.

Meanwhile, staff at a bakery on Johnston Road in Wan Chai said they had not yet seen a sales surge. A sales assistant, Jojo Lau, said: Our business remains the same as usual.

With Hato exerting its influence long before nearing the city, Hongkongers endured another day of very hot and smoggy conditions on Tuesday.
Maximum temperatures hit 36.6 degrees Celsius at the Observatory in Tsim Sha Tsui, the ­highest ever to be recorded there in 132 years.


Tourism Observer

HONG KONG: Wong Chuk Hang District Is Home To Street Art, Attracts Plenty Of Tourists

Since the opening of the MTR’s South Island Line, an increasing number of people are heading towards the Southern District to discover its hidden gems.

Here are five places that could soon put Hong Kong’s Southern District neighbourhoods on the tourist map.

The former industrial zone in Wong Chuk Hang district is home to street art and becomes an instant hit during the HK-Walls event earlier this year drawing local and foreign tourists.

This once-sleepy warehouse-and-factory neighbourhood is adorned with live mural paintings by Hong Kong and international artists, including Thai street artists, Mauy and Jecks who have large murals expressing their innermost feelings through colour, lines and shapes.

The Sensory Zero is gaining a following for the special drinks created by its owner Alvin, a coffee Q Grader and a tea taster, and his partner Dixon.

Try the popular Tea Champagne (Rose Oolong) with tasty dishes such as Beef Stew Super Bowl and Grilled Eel over Rice.

Mirth is a fascinating store that will amaze visitors with its wide array of homeware, stationery and toys.

Among the main attractions are children’s clothing designed by the shop owner, and accessories designed by her daughter.

It is located on M floor, B T Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang.

Drop by the Happy Dinings Place eatery and you will enjoy tantalising delicacies such as pineapple bun with pork chop, chocolate spread and condensed milk toast, and iced milk tea with red beans.

A good destination for satisfying meals, minimeals and light snacks in nondescript surroundings.

It’s on the ground floor of Siu Kwan Mansion, 120 Old Main Street Aberdeen.

Travellers can get free 20th Anniversary Coupon Booklets upon arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Tourism Board Visitor Centre and various hotels citywide for smart traveller deals.

Boeing B747 Operated By MyCargo Was Leased By Turkish Airlines

ACT Airlines issued this statement:

“Respectfully announced to the public,
ACT Airlines is deeply saddened to report that an accident happened during the flight from HongKong to Bishkek by Boeing 747-400 TC-MCL registered cargo aircraft at 01:20 Z. The cause of the accident is unknown at this time and further details will be provided as they become available.
Yours sincerely,
ACT AIRLINES”

ACT Airlines, a.k.a. ACT Havayollari, operating as MyCargo Airlines, is a Turkish cargo airline based in the Ekinci Residence Building Level 7, in Kurtköy, Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkish Airlines issued this statement:

“A cargo flight with TC-MCL registration number, operated by ACT Airlines, departed from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Bishkek Manas International Airport (FRU) had an accident near Bishkek at around 01:40 UTC.

Please kindly be informed that, neither the aircraft nor the crew are the members of Turkish Airlines. If you wish to make any citation to your report, please refer to Mr. Yahya ÜSTÜN, SVP Media Relations of Turkish Airlines.”

ACT is leasing planes to several major airlines including Qatar Airways, Saudia and Turkish Airlines.

The last accident before today’s deadly crash was recorded in 2010 in Afghanistan

A scene of horror is developing in Kyrgyzstan, where a Turkish Airlines Boeing 747 crashed into a residential neighborhood close to Manas Airport on Monday morning. Manas International Airport is the main international airport in Kyrgyzstan located 25 kilometers north-northwest of the capital Bishkek.

A Turkish Airlines Boeing 747 freighter jet tried to land in dense fog, Kyrgyz officials said. The plane was operated by Turkish Airlines under flight number TK6491.

The flight took off in Hongkong. So far the Kyrgyzstan ministry of health said, at least 32 local residents, including 5 children were killed plus the pilots. This number is most likely to increase. Firefighters are on the chaotic scene.

The majority of the dead are from the nearby village of Dacha-Suu where the plane – a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul from Hong Kong via Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek -crashed at around 7.30am local time, a spokesman for the country’s emergency services ministry revealed.

At least 15 homes destroyed after Turkish Airlines plane crash.

Airport officials said there was an unknown number of crew members onboard the plane but no passengers.

Kyrgyz First Deputy Prime Minister Mukhammetkaly Abulgaziev and Emergencies Minister Kubatbek Boronov are at the crash scene.

Officials said Manas airport is operating normally.

The number dead is based on reports Rescue workers have recovered the body of one pilot and 15 local people whose houses were in the Boeing 747 jet’s crash area.

MACAU: Visit Macau One Of The Gambling Capitals Of The World

Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China. Located across the Pearl River estuary from Hong Kong, until 1999 Macau was an overseas territory of Portugal.

One of the world's most densely populated spots, Macau generates more revenue from gambling than anywhere else on the planet, including more than seven times the revenue generated by "The Strip" in Las Vegas.

Best known worldwide as the 'Vegas of China', the Macau Special Administrative Region is indeed a mecca of gambling and glitz.

But the city is so much more than that. A Portuguese colony for more than 300 years, it is a city of blended cultures. Ancient Chinese temples sit on streets paved with traditional Portuguese tiles. The sound of Cantonese fills the air on streets with Portuguese names.

You can eat Chinese congee for breakfast, enjoy a Portuguese lunch of caldo verde soup and bacalhau (cod) fritters, and dine on hybrid Macanese fare such as minchi (ground beef or pork, often served over rice).

The Macau Peninsula holds the old city centre, where colonial ruins sit next to arty new boutiques. Further south are the conjoined islands of Taipa, Cotai and Coloane.

Taipa has gloriously preserved Macanese architecture, Cotai is home to the new mega casinos and Coloane is lined with colonial villages and pretty beaches.

Macau was one of the earliest European colonies in Asia and the last to be relinquished (1999) and thus has a more visible colonial history than Hong Kong.

Walking through the old city you could convince yourself you were in Europe,if the streets were devoid of people and signs in Chinese, that is. The Portuguese and Macanese populations continue to maintain a presence but, as expected, most of the population is native Chinese.

Besides the city itself, Macau includes the islands of Taipa and Coloane, which are connected to Macau by bridges and to each other by a causeway, now built up into the Cotai Strip.

The Chinese city of Zhuhai borders Macau to the north, and the border crossing carries heavy two-way vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The Zhuhai Special Economic Zone extends south to Hengqin Island, an area west of Taipa, Cotai and Coloane; the Lotus Bridge from Cotai connects to that area.

There is significant movement by the local population of both Zhuhai and Macau across the border, making the two feel like twin cities.

Macau is subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. Visitors should note that typhoons often strike from mid-summer to Autumn which could stop many activities there.

Although winter is generally mild, there are occasional cold fronts which could make temperatures drop 10°C (~25°F) in a day

In the 16th Century, China gave Portugal the right to settle in Macau in exchange for clearing the area of pirates under strict Chinese administration. Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East.

It became Portuguese colony effectively after the treaty signed by the Qing and Portuguese Governments in 1887. It was also the last when, pursuant to an agreement signed by China and Portugal in 1987, Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December 1999, ending over 400 years of Portuguese administration.

China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula - Macau is officially the same country with mainland China, but maintains its own ruling systems.

Like its neighbour Hong Kong, Macau still does not have a full democracy and the locals often think that there is too much control or influence from Beijing with more one country, less two systems.

In recent years, Macau's economy has boomed rapidly due to the opening of the gambling licenses. Thousands of tourists are in Macau each day, mainly from mainland China and neighbouring regions.

The standard of living in Macau has as a result grown significantly, and in many cases, on par with some European countries. The tourist industry has also diversified instead of casinos, Macau is also promoting its historic sites, culture and cuisine.

As in the rest of China, the Lunar New Year is a really big deal when all public transport modes are overcrowded and booked out.

Macau was geographically divided into three regions: the peninsula and two islands. However, reclamation of the area between Taipa and Coloane has created the fourth region of Cotai.

Districts of Macau
- Macau Peninsula
The northernmost region connected to the Chinese mainland. It is the center of most tourist activity and is densely crowded.

- Taipa
The island south of the peninsula, accessible via three bridges. It is a major residential center and is the location of Macau's International Airport.

- Cotai
A strip of reclaimed land between Coloane and Taipa, with vast new casinos rising up (such as The Venetian, the largest casino in the world).

- Coloane
The most southern island, it is considerably less developed than the other regions due to its mountainous terrain. It has two beaches, several hiking trails and a resort. It is also the location of Macau's first golf course.

Entering Macau
For many years, the usual way to get to Macau was to fly into Hong Kong and take a ferry across to Macau. Today, Macau is becoming a low-cost airline hub, and some are now arriving at Macau to later go to Hong Kong.

Entry Requirements
- For foreign nationals, the maximum limit of stay in Macau is restricted to 30 days before the expiry date of the passport or travel document and the entry or re-entry permit.

- For example, if a South African citizen presents a passport which has a validity of 40 days when she enters Macau, she will only be allowed to stay for up to 10 days, even though in general South Africans can stay for up to 30 days in Macau visa-free.

Macau has a separate immigration regime from mainland China and Hong Kong. All travellers from mainland China and Hong Kong and all foreign countries have to go through immigration and customs checks on arrival in Macau.

Therefore, if you want to re-enter the Mainland from Macau, you will have to re-apply for another Chinese visa unless your existing one is a multiple entry visa.

While Hong Kong and likewise Macau are officially part of the People's Republic of China, don't let this cause confusion, as they are still designated as SAR or Special Administrative Regions operating under their own immigration controls, currencies and autonomous governments.

An entry permit to Hong Kong is not valid in Macau and vice versa.

Holders of a Hong Kong permanent identity card or a re-entry permit can enter Macau visa-free for up to 1 year without having to present their passport. Holders of a Hong Kong non-permanent identity card can enter Macau visa-free for up to 30 days and must present their passport.

Foreign nationals of the following countries/territories can enter Macau visa-free:

For up to 180 days: United Kingdom.

For up to 90 days: All other European Union member states, plus Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Norway, Serbia, South Korea, Switzerland and Tanzania.

For up to 30 days: Australia, Belarus, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United States and Uruguay.

For up to 14 days: Brunei.

For up to 7 days: China (PRC) (solely for transit via Macau to a third country and holders of a two-way permit with a valid exit endorsement).

For foreign nationals, the maximum limit of stay in Macau is restricted to 30 days before the expiry date of the passport or travel document and the entry or re-entry permit.

For example, if a South African citizen presents a passport which has a validity of 40 days when she enters Macau, she will only be allowed to stay for up to 10 days, even though in general South Africans can stay for up to 30 days in Macau visa-free.

In addition, all foreign visitors who intend to enter Macau for less than 48 hours for the purpose of travelling onwards to another destination via Macau International Airport are exempt from obtaining a visa.

If you require a visa, it can either be obtained in advance from a Chinese embassy or consulate, or on arrival in Macau (Macau visas are separate from visas valid for travel to Mainland China).

A visa on arrival costs MOP100 (individual), MOP50 (children under 12; per person for groups of 10 or more travellers with a collective travel document) or MOP200 (family passport).

A visa issued on arrival is valid for multiple entries within 30 days of the issuing date. This is a very quick and cheap way of getting a visa and definitely preferable over filling in an application at a Chinese embassy or consulate.

However, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Vietnamese citizens,unless they hold a Hong Kong identity card cannot use the visa on arrival facility and must apply for a Macau visa at a Chinese embassy in advance or at the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong.

The application form for a Macau visa if applying for one at a Chinese embassy or at the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong is available at and the application fee is USD30 plus USD20 if the embassy has to refer the application to Macau.

The standard service takes 5 working days to process the visa application,if the embassy needs to refer the application to Macau, the application takes 3 weeks.

An express service of 3 working days is available for an additional USD20, while an 'extra express' service same or next working day, is available for an additional USD30 the express/'extra express' services are not available if the embassy needs to refer the application to Macau.

All travellers who enter Macau,regardless of whether visa-exempt or not may be required to show they have a minimum of MOP5,000 to fund their stay and possess a valid return or onward journey ticket.

The only exception to the return/onward journey ticket requirements is for residents of Hong Kong or mainland China, but not if they use a Hong Kong SAR or Chinese passport to transit through Macau to a third country/territory.

Lost/stolen travel documents: If your travel document is lost or stolen while you are in Macau, you should follow the procedure detailed at this webpage of the Macau SAR Public Security Police Force.

The form to complete for a lost/stolen Hong Kong identity card/travel document is , lost/stolen Australian passport/travel document and all other lost/stolen passports/travel documents .

Detailed information about immigration requirements is available at the website of the Macau Public Security Police Force.

By Boat
This is still the main way in which most visitors get to Macau. The main ferry terminal in Macau is the Macau Ferry Terminal (Terminal Maritimo) at the Outer Harbour.

This is a busy terminal handling most of the sea traffic between Macau and Hong Kong as well as the Chinese ports of Shekou and Fuyong,the latter which serves Shenzhen International Airport. Getting there/away: Buses 1A, 3, 3A, 10, 10A, 10B, 12, 28A, 28B, 28BX, 32 and AP1 run from the ferry terminal.

The bus stop is on the main road to the right as you walk out of the building. Pick up a free bus schedule in the tourist information centre in the building. If you are heading straight to a casino or hotel, most of these establishments provide free shuttle buses.

They gather to the left of the terminal building; step out of the arrival-level of the building and turn left; casino shuttles are in the big bus group while hotel shuttles are in the smaller bus group.

There is a lesser known ferry terminal in Macau, located at Pier No. 11 at the Inner Harbour. This is a new ferry terminal building after its former Pier 14 site was given to developers by the Macau Government. It is very near to the Macau city centre and can be easily reached on foot. This terminal mostly services boats to Shenzhen, Jiangmen and Wanzai across the Inner Harbour in Zhuhai.

A third temporary ferry service serves Taipa, Cotai and Coloane connecting to Hong Kong and Shekou. The Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal is adjacent the Ponte da Amizade Friendship Bridge on Estrada de Pac On, and is served by bus AP1 from the city to the airport, but not the other way around,unless you go around the entire loop.

There are also free shuttle buses to the Venetian, the Wynn, COD. A larger permanent ferry terminal is being constructed between the temporary terminal and the Macau International Airport, scheduled for completion in 2011.

From Hong Kong
Ferries to Macau operate from several points in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong International Airport where you can bypass Hong Kong Immigration and transfer directly into a ferry to Macau.

Macau-Hong Kong Island: Ferries from Hong Kong's Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island operate 24 hours a day at frequencies of every 15-30 minutes by day and hourly at night.

In Macau, they dock at the Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal. The cheapest one-way ticket from Hong Kong is HKD164,HKD25 extra per bag for luggage, though 1 hand-carry size luggage within 20kg could be free depending on the company and the trip takes one hour. You can buy tickets online in advance to ensure you secure the sailing you want at busy times. Weekend fares are more expensive.

Ferries are operated by TurboJet. Another frequent ferry service is operated by Cotai Jet directly to Taipa from Hong Kong, and there are free shuttle buses to The Venetian from the Ferry Terminal, for quick and easy access to Taipa and Coloane.

Macau-Kowloon: Ferries operate from the China (HK) Ferry Terminal on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Ferries are slightly less frequent compared with services from Hong Kong Island, running every half-hour from 07:00-22:30. Fares start at HK$164 and the trip takes about 90 minutes. Both TurboJet and Cotai Jet operate on this route.

Macau-Hong Kong International Airport: Ferries from Hong Kong International Airport to Macau. These are less frequent but they allow you to bypass Hong Kong Immigration and Customs by transferring directly to the ferry in the airport's transfers hall. If a ferry ticket is purchased online in advance, your airline may be able to check your luggage all the way to Macau.

Alternatively, for airlines that are point-to-point and do not allow you to do so, you should request that the baggage handlers retrieve your checked-in luggage for you from the luggage belt which is only available after immigration while processing your ferry ticket by presenting your baggage tags.

You board the ferry at the airport SkyPier terminal which is accessed by an internal train. Fares start at HK$180 and services are operated by TurboJet Sea Express.

The price of ferry tickets differ based on the time and day of the week of the ride. Ferry departures at night (between 6PM and 6AM) and on weekends are more expensive.

Especially at the HK Macau Ferry Terminal, keep an eye out for ticket touts. Some offices here resell legit bulk tickets at a small discount, but an altogether slimier species sells unused tickets for ferries that are about to leave, you may catch them if you run, but will be out of luck and money, if you don't.

Be wary of anyone outside the elevators who enthusiastically beckons you to an agents office and shows you tickets for future sailings, only for you to end up with tickets for ferries that are departing in the next few minutes.

A few touts even pose as "inspectors" and, with practiced sleight of hand, swap your ticket. Don't let anybody not in uniform take your ticket!

From Mainland China: Several ferry companies run to Macau from mainland ports including Jiangmen, Shekou (in Shenzhen) and Fu Yong Ferry Terminal,next to Shenzhen Airport.

Macau-Fu Yong or Shenzhen Airport: TurboJet runs several ferries daily between the Macau Ferry Terminal and the Fu Yong Ferry Terminal. Journey time is about one hour. Economy fare $222, with premium and VIP fares also available. There are free shuttle buses connecting the Fu Yong Ferry Terminal with Shenzhen Int'l Airport at the front door of the ferry terminal, the shuttle journey taking 5-10 minutes. Taxis are also available from the terminal.

Macau-Shekou (Shenzhen):
Yuet Tung Shipping Co runs a ferry service departing from the Macau Inner Harbour Terminal at Pier 14 on Rua das Lorchas near intersection with Av Almeida Ribeiro at 10:00, 14:00, 17:30 and 20:15. $129, $78 for children. From Shekou, boats leave at 08:15, 11:45, 15:45 and 18:30. Journey takes about 1 and a half hours.

Shenzhen Xunlong Shipping Co operates from Macau's two other ports: 10 times per day between 09:45-20:45 from the Macau Ferry Terminal and 3 times per day between 11:00-19:00 from the Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal ¥170.

Macau-Jiangmen: CKS has a daily connection with Jiangmen from the Macau Inner Harbour Terminal at Pier 14 on Rua das Lorchas.

Macau-Wanzai (Zhuhai): Yuet Tung Shipping Co runs boats between the Macau Inner Harbour Terminal at Pier 14 on Rua das Lorchas, and the Wanzai Customs Port in Wanzai, Zhuhai. Journey time is about 10 minutes. $12.50. Boats start at 8AM and end at about 4PM. You can catch connecting buses to Gongbei and other places in Zhuhai from Wanzai.

A more frequent and cheaper option is to catch a ferry to/from Zhuhai's Jiuzhou Port, which is only a few kilometers from the Macau-Zhuhai border. Take a short taxi ride (¥10) or a No. 4 bus from the border crossing to the ferry terminal. The bus ride should be included in your ferry ticket. Ferries from Shenzhen Shekou Port to Zhuhai run every 30 minutes. ¥90.

When taking any ferry, make sure to arrive early since customs lines may take longer than expected.

By Car
The legal driving age in Macau is 18, the same as in Hong Kong and the Mainland.

There are two vehicular entry points into Macau from China. They are the Portas do Cerco (Guan Chap in Cantonese, Guanzha in Mandarin) at the extreme north of Macau Peninsula which connects you to Gongbei in Zhuhai, and the Lotus Bridge,officially the Cotai Frontier Checkpoint which links the Cotai Strip with the Wanzai district of Zhuhai.

You can only enter if your vehicle (cars only, no motorcycles) has both Macau and mainland China number plates and the driver carries both Macau and China driver's licenses. Note that you have to switch sides of the road; mainland China drives on the right, Macau on the left.

Portas do Cerco: This is the usual entry point into Macau from Zhuhai and is very busy. It is open from 7AM-midnight. The crossing will bring you directly into Gongbei in Zhuhai.

Getting there/away: The best way to approach the crossing from anywhere in Macau is to use Avenida Norte de Hipodromo which continues as Avenida da Ponte da Amizade, or Avenida Comendador Ho Yin from the western part of the peninsula.

Lotus Bridge: Much quieter than the Portas do Cerco, this crossing involves you driving over the Lotus Bridge over the narrow channel between Cotai and Hengqin Island (China). The crossing is open from 9AM-8PM. Getting there/away: The Cotai frontier checkpoint can be accessed via the Taipa-Coloane Istmus Road (still known as the Taipa-Coloane Causeway) and turn off at the Flor de Lotus roundabout about halfway between Taipa and Coloane.

By Coach
You can take the coach from Guangzhou, the mainland's third-largest city,formerly Canton. The trip takes about 3 hours and costs around ¥80. Coaches are available from the Guangzhou airport at regular intervals. The bus takes you within walking distance (200 metres) of Portas do Cerco, the usual entry point into north Macau.

There is also a direct coach from Shenzhen airport and also Shenzhen long distance bus station. The trip from Shenzhen is about 3 hours.

There is also a direct coach from Dongguan to Macau Airport. The trip takes about 3 hours and costs around ¥100.

You can also get a bus from either place to Gongbei bus station in Zhuhai. That puts you right across the street from the border facilities so you can walk to Macau. This can save you a bit of money; the bus is about the same price either way, but food and hotels are cheaper in Zhuhai.

By Air

Macau International Airport is off the shore of Taipa Island. It has basic facilities and a couple of aerobridges, but it's possible that you will park on the tarmac and take a bus to the terminal.

Macau's home carrier is Air Macau. While nowhere nearly as well served as Hong Kong, the airport is popular among low-cost airlines thanks to its low landing fees. AirAsia Group flies to Macau from Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok-Don Mueang and Manila while Tigerair serves Singapore, Cebu Pacific and Philippines Airlines serve Manila and Clark, Thai Smile serves Bangkok and Jin Air serves Seoul-Incheon .

Bus AP1 plies a route between the airport and the Barrier Gate. Its route passes through several points on Taipa Island, and it stops at the ferry terminal on the peninsula on the way. It costs MOP4.20 per passenger, MOP3 per bag. It has limited provision for baggage, and can be very crowded,you may not even get the first bus to arrive.

Change at the ferry terminal for other destinations, the frequent number 3 bus runs from the ferry terminal and passes the Lisboa, Landmark Hotel, and Holiday Inn, or catch one of the hotel/casino shuttles which go the ferry terminal. The buses do not give change, but there is a currency exchange just inside the terminal that will change foreign currency into low denomination MOP.

Alternatively, take a metered taxi straight to your destination, but there's a MOP5 airport surcharge plus MOP2 for the bridge and MOP3 per bag. Fares to the city centre are around $40-50, the trip taking 15-20 minutes.

If you are bound for Hong Kong, Zhuhai or Shenzhen, you can use the airport's Express Link special bus service to connect directly to the ferry or the Zhuhai border without passing through Macau immigration.

However, the bus schedule is limited (11:00-18:00 only), which limits the utility somewhat; depending on your flight, if you don't need a visa for Macau, it may well be faster to go through immigration twice. If you have a same-day ticket, you can also use this service in the return direction to transfer directly to the airport.

Air Macau flies daily to Beijing, Nanjing, Ningbo and Shanghai. They also fly several times a week to Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Nanning, Wuhan and Xiamen. Xiamen Airlines flies to Fuzhou, Hangzhou and Xiamen.

Other airlines include AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, EVA Air and Spring Airlines among others. It is usually cheaper to fly to Zhuhai and cross the border by land as flights between Macau and the mainland are considered to be international flights.

On Foot
You can cross from mainland China to Macau on foot at Gongbei/Portas do Cerco (Barrier Gate) crossings at the south of Zhuhai/the extreme north of Macau Peninsula. In fact, thousands of Macanese and Chinese citizens do it daily, making it an horrendously busy crossing. Depending on the time and day of the week, expect long waits to get processed, up to 3 hours.

Many business people work in Macau and live in Zhuhai, resulting in a morning rush hour into Macau, and an evening rush hour out of Macau. It is similar on the weekends, with many people trying to get in a full day's visit. Mid-afternoon might be the shortest wait, with times down to about 30 minutes.

Getting there/away: The massive underground Portas do Cerco bus terminal is beneath the pretty garden in front of the border checkpoint plaza. You'll be able to find buses to most parts of Macau, including Taipa, Coloane and the Cotai Strip from here, including many free buses to the casinos. From downtown Macau by taxi, the border is about 10 minutes and $30.

As most people crossing the Barrier Gate are either mainland or Macau residents, foreign passport holders may get a short queue at the Zhuhai immigration clearance as they do not pass through the same counters as Chinese nationals. However, Macau's immigration divides entrants only into Macau residents and visitors, without further differentiation, and foreigners have to queue with an overwhelming number of mainland residents.

There are money changers at the Barrier Gate that give very good rates so you can change your money into Chinese renminbi before crossing the customs.

Although you are not allowed to walk on the Lotus Bridge between Wanzai and Cotai, you can board a bus to cross it.

By Helicopter
The Sky Shuttle helicopter service operates every 15-30 minutes between Macau's Terminal Maritimo and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Pier in Hong Kong, as well as five times a day to/from Shenzhen airport. The trip takes just 16 minutes, but weekday/weekend tickets cost a whopping HK$3700/3900 one-way.

Get around On foot: This is probably the best way to get around the Macau Peninsula, which is small, compact and full of things to discover. Many roads are also one way so there is quite a chance that it won't be slower than to take road transport which may need to make a long loop to reach the destination.

Most streets have a pedestrian sidewalk making walking easy, although you will have to fight the crowds going in all directions. Traffic rules are not very well adhered to, so ensure that you look both ways before crossing. In and around the Senado Square, the pavements will be made of hand-laid limestone pieces made into simple designs, something that will surely catch your attention. Macau is also hilly, be prepared to struggle up and down steep lanes and steps.

Especially in the old city, the city streets do not seem to run in any particular pattern and you'll most likely get lost at some stage, which is part of the fun of exploring Macau.

Don't bother trying to get around the Cotai area on foot though, as the huge long streets with nothing much on them except the outside edge of new hotels and giant building sites will eat up time you could better spend elsewhere in Macau.

By Coaches
Macau and its districts are served by three bus companies - Transportes Urbanos Macau (Transmac) and Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos de Macau (TCM). Sociedade de Transportes Públicos Reolian (Reolian). The bus system in Macau can be difficult to use.

It is often difficult to gauge which direction the bus is heading and the routes through the city center are very curvy, making a long ride out of a short distance. Bus drivers usually only speak Cantonese, very little English or Mandarin and certainly no Portuguese at all. Most bus stops contain no English, although you can sometimes figure out the destination from Portuguese words.

Nevertheless, the websites of all three companies have good route guides. The TCM website is only in Chinese, while the Transmac website depicts routes schematically.

There is a flat fare of $3.20 for rides within the Macau Peninsula, $4.20 between the Peninsular and Taipa, $5 between the Peninsula and Coloane village, and $6.40 between the Peninsula and Hác Sá (Coloane). But like the buses in Hong Kong, your fare is according to the bus stop you board, not by the length of the journey.

Fares are displayed next to the fare box, so get your destinations written in Chinese if you need to tell them where you're going. You need the exact fare as drivers do not give change. Macaupass, a debit card similar to Hong Kong's Octopus Card system, is now widely used by Macau citizens as it provide discounts on paying bus fare.

However, it may be hard to purchase one as the distribution points are limited. Buses accept Hong Kong coins,but not the $10 Hong Kong coin.

By Scooter
Scooters are a wonderful way to see the sites of Macau, they are also the primary mode of transport for locals due to Macau's narrow streets and lack of car parking space. Scooters will seat one or two people and can provide the convenience to see some of the more beautiful and less crowded spots in Macau, such as Coloane Village, Cheoc Van Beach or the Portuguese fort.

Macau is very small and it is easy to navigate around, while driving is much less hectic and more civilized than in other places in Asia.

Macau Scooter Hire provides scooters for rental, though it is best to make reservations online prior to your arrival. Motorbike rental starts at US$19 for 3 hours or $40 per day. The longer the hire the cheaper it gets per hour / day. Driving licenses from most countries covering mopeds or motorcycles are accepted.

By Shuttle Bus
If you've got more time than money on your hands, you can travel around Macau for free simply by hopping on and off the complimentary shuttle buses operated by all major casinos and hotels. Virtually all serve the Terminal Maritimo, with buses every 5 to 10 minutes, while the big boys (Venetian, Wynn, City of Dreams, Galaxy etc) also shuttle to the Border Gates, the Taipa Ferry Terminal and the airport.

The buses to Hotel Lisboa, for example, drop you off just a few blocks from Largo do Senado. You generally have to be at least 18 years old to use them. You may have to get a ticket from Lisboa Casino in order to leave the casino by shuttle but most of the casinos offer totally free to take their shuttle buses.

By Taxi
Taxi fares start at $17. Largo do Senado to the border is about 45MOP. The longest possible taxi ride from the Border Post at the extreme north of Macau to Coloane in the south would be well under 200MOP.

It is a good idea to have your destination written in Chinese as most taxi drivers know only Chinese. Most taxi drivers carry with them a list of casinos and other important places so refer to it on the sunguard of the front passenger seat.

Each bag placed in the boot of the taxi is entitled to an additional surcharge.

Macau has a taxi shortage problem, and aside from long queues for taxis, taxi drivers often illegally ask inflated prices without turning on the meter, or refuse to take passengers to undesirable destinations.

Beware of dishonest taxi drivers who often approach tourists just off the legitimate taxi stands or casinos, offering rides for 2-5 times more than the legal metered fares, practice known in Macau as "fishing".

During weekday rush hours (16:30-19:30), it can be very difficult getting a taxi as most taxi drivers on station head back to the depot to change drivers. If you are lucky enough to catch one, some drivers may ask you to pay extra, upwards of 50MOP-100 on top of the normal fare to your destination. It is not uncommon to see a huge line for taxi queues during peak times. Plan accordingly.

By Triciclo Cycle-rickshaws

As in Hong Kong, cycle rickshaws (triciclo or riquexó) are a dying breed, although a few still lurk around tourist haunts like the ferry terminal and Hotel Lisboa. Prices are negotiable, but a few hours of city touring by triciclo might cost around $200.

Car Rental
Car rental is not a popular option in Macau given the territory's high population density and small size. Avis provides car rental services in Macau and you have the option of renting the car with or without a driver. Roads are generally well maintained and directional signs are in both Chinese and Portuguese.

Unlike in mainland China, international driving permits (IDP's) are accepted in Macau, and traffic moves on the left side of the road with most cars being right-hand drive,largely due to influences from neighbouring Hong Kong.

If you wish to drive to mainland China, your vehicle must have a second set of number plates issued by the Guangdong authorities, and you would need to carry an additional Mainland license, as the Chinese government does not recognise Hong Kong, Macau or foreign licenses. You would also need to change sides of the road at the border.

Languages
Macau's official languages are Cantonese and Portuguese.

Cantonese is the most commonly spoken language of Macau. Mandarin is not widely spoken, though most locals are able to comprehend it to some degree. Staff working at major hotels and tourist attractions will usually be reasonably competent in Mandarin.

English is spoken by most front-line staff in the tourism industry. Nearly all museums and casinos have some staff with excellent English, as do many hotels, shops and restaurants, especially the up-market ones. However, English is not as widely spoken as in Hong Kong, so outside the main tourist areas, especially in establishments catering to the average working class, you will find that most people are not conversant in English.

This includes most bus and taxi drivers, so be sure to have staff from your hotel write down the names of your destinations in Chinese to show the taxi driver, and get your hotel's business card in case you get lost. If you have to ask someone on the street of directions in English, your best bet is to approach a young adult who is likely to be a college student or having graduated from it,which is not difficult to find given the fact that more and more young people in Macau are now entering universities.

Speakers of Portuguese won't find it very useful when talking to local residents, as it is no longer compulsory in schools, but it helps a lot in understanding place names and signs. There is plenty of informational material for tourists available in Portuguese as well.

As Portuguese continues to be an official language of the SAR, government offices are required by law to have Portuguese-speaking staff on duty; for tourists, the most commonly used is the Macau post office, Correios de Macau. Many Portuguese cafés and restaurants also have Portuguese-speaking staff.

All official signs in Macau are bilingual in traditional Chinese and Portuguese. Note that under the "one country, two systems" policy, Macau continues to use traditional Chinese characters and not the simplified Chinese characters used in Mainland China.

Vong or Wong?
One of the oddities of Macau is that some Cantonese names and words that are pronounced with what in English is a "W" sound, and that in Hong Kong are transliterated with a "W", are transliterated with a "V" instead, such as in Cheoc Van (which in Hong Kong would be Chuk Wan).

This can also be seen in the surname Vong in Hong Kong Wong. No doubt Portuguese pronunciation has had an influence on this choice of transliteration. To complicate things further, this has not been done consistently so there are both Vongs and Wongs in Macau - both written with the same Chinese character.

Attractions
Although best known for gambling, Macau is rich in attractions and oozing with atmosphere, thanks to hundreds of years of fusion between European and Chinese cultures.

Macau is a fascinating place to just walk around as the place is packed with churches, temples, fortresses and other old buildings bearing an interesting mix of Portuguese and Chinese characteristics.

Besides buildings, there are also hundreds of narrow alleyways forming a maze in the old part of Macau where the people of Macau carry out businesses and work. If the sheer density of humans get to you, take a break and enjoy several pretty gardens or head to the island.

One of the interesting things to see in Macau is a statue of the Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara,known as kwoon yam in Cantonese located next to the sea near the Sands Casino and MGM Grand. Despite being a Chinese deity, the statue is distinctly European in design and resembles statues of the Virgin Mary one can find in Europe.

Rua da Tercena is the most popular art, antique, and flea market street in Macau, a little off the beaten track with less Chinese tourist crowds and a lot of character. It is located near St Paul's, behind Senado Square. Follow Rua de São Paulo to Rua das Estalagens and turn down the hill to the next narrow street. Go past the shops selling antiques, the tailor shops, and other small shops until the road reaches a fork.

And if culture is not your thing, there is the Macau Tower for awesome views and adventure sports, or Fisherman's Wharf to enjoy some theme-park activities and shopping.

You'll find most of the attractions in Macau Peninsula, but Taipa and Coloane, each with a pretty village, also draw hordes of visitors. Visit the Cotai reclaimed land area to see its transformation into the "Las Vegas Strip of the East". The Venetian is the most famous with its Venice-styled shopping mall with rivers running through, and is also currently the largest casino in the world.

The City of Dreams is a giant casino with high end fashion shops, a free video 'bubble' show, three hotels and the world's most expensive theatre show. The 'House of Dancing Water' cost US$250 million and the stage holds five olympic swimming pools worth of water. Ushers give the front few rows of the audience towels. Free shuttles from the main ferry terminal leave constantly.

Heritage
A large section of Macau Peninsula has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and 25 buildings and sites within the area have been deemed to have cultural and historic significance.

One of the best ways to cover the sights is to do the Macau Heritage Walk circuit. The heritage Buildings, the Sao Paulo Cathedral, the Fort and the Macau Museum are all adjacent to each other and can be conveniently seen individually even if one cannot catch the Heritage walk timing.

Taipa Village and Coloane Village, still inhabited by some fishermen, are also interesting with their colonial-era shops and houses along narrow lanes.

Museums
Macau has several museums. The "Macau Museum Pass", which gives discounted entry to most of these, is currently off the market. The main museums, such as the Macau Museum, are in Macau Peninsula although there are two museums on Taipa - the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History and Taipa Houses Museum.

Casinos
Gambling is Macau's biggest industry, and busloads arrive daily from mainland China to try their luck. In addition, many Hong Kongers arrive on weekends with the same aim. For many years, the Casino Lisboa was the most famous and a landmark well known to people outside Macau, but it is being eclipsed by Sands Casino which opened in 2004.

Nevertheless, the original Casino Lisboa is still worth a visit as its halls contain many original antiques on display from the private collection of gambling tycoon Stanley Ho.

Most casinos are located along the waterfront on the southern side of Macau Peninsula. North of the Lisboa is a strip with many smaller casinos, a number of hotels and bars, and quite a few restaurants. This can be one of the more interesting areas of Macau; among other things it has quite a good Indian restaurant and several Portuguese ones.

However, parts of it are also fairly sleazy, with lots of hookers and touts, so some caution is in order. New casinos have also opened in the area called NAPE south of Avenida de Amizade, including Wynn Macau and Sands Macau.

All this is going to be overtaken by the new development on the Cotai Strip, which is being made into "The Las Vegas Strip of the East". The biggest casino in the world, Venetian Macao, opened its doors in August 2007 and the not-much-smaller City of Dreams followed in 2009, with many more still to come. There are also several casinos on Taipa, including the Crown Macau.

There are ATMs available at either casino as well as Forex facilities to change your money. Gamblers are required to be at least 21 years of age, as of 1 November 2012 to be allowed to play. Interestingly, local civil servants are not allowed to enter the casinos with the exception of the first three days of the Chinese new year.

Greyhound racing

Another popular form of gambling in Macau is greyhound racing, where people bet on dogs in the same way that many people in other countries bet on horses. The minimum bet is MOP10, and payouts can be made in both Macanese patacas and Hong Kong dollars.

Canidrome is your spot for great Greyhound racing. It is located on Avenida General Castelo Branco. Greyhound races are held at the Canidrome on Monday, Thursday and Friday plus weekends - racing starts at 19:45 with 16 races each night.

MOP10 admission fee (redeemable when betting) to get in. Box seats are MOP80 for non-peak days and MOP120 for weekends and holidays. There is off-track-betting available for the Canidrome at Jai-Alai Palace, Hotel Lisboa and Kam Pek Casino.

Adventure
At a height of 233 metres, the bungy jump from Macau tower, maintained and operated by A. J. Hackett is the 2nd highest in the world. Along with the bungy, one can also try the Sky jump, that is somewhat like a jump but is more protected and doesn't involve a free fall, and a sky walk, that is a protected on a platform running around the circumference of the floor. Bouldering and sport climbing activities are also conducted at the tower's base. See the Macau Peninsula page for details.

Swimming
Macau's two beaches - Hac Sa - (black sand) and Cheoc Van (bamboo bay) - are located on the southern side of Coloane island. They are very popular and are frequented by locals and visitors, especially at the weekend.

Besides beaches, there are several public swimming pools all over Macau. All high-end hotels also have swimming pools.

Hiking/Cycling

There are opportunities for hiking and cycling on the relatively rural islands of Taipa and Coloane.

Bowling
There is a bowling centre of international standard which was constructed in 2005 for the East Asian Games at the Macau Dome in Cotai area. There is also a bowling alley in Macau near the Camoes Garden/Protestant cemetery.

Purchasing
The official currency of Macau is the pataca (MOP), which is divided into 100 avos. Pataca is the traditional Portuguese name for both dollars and pesos, and the $ sign is used locally.

The pataca is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) at MOP1.03 = HKD1 and, in practice, a large percentage of cash transactions in Macau are made in Hong Kong dollars, which are accepted on an equal 1:1 basis by almost all businesses. If you pay using Hong Kong dollars, you may receive patacas as change, or a mixture of patacas and Hong Kong dollars.

If you pay in HKD and receive change in MOP, the vendor has, in effect, taken a small amount of foreign exchange commission from you. Consider it a convenience fee and if wanting to stretch your MOP as far as it can go, visit a currency exchange counter. You may find businesses refusing the HKD10 coin, due to the fear of counterfeits.

Although dollars and patacas may be used interchangeably almost everywhere, there are two main exceptions. Transactions made at government offices may only be made in patacas, and most casinos will only accept Hong Kong dollars.

Chinese yuan (CNY) are also accepted in some businesses, often at a poor exchange rate, but they can easily be changed to patacas at bureaux de change and banks.

Getting money is quite easy as there are banks and ATMs (cash machines) on nearly every street. Holders of a debit card on one of the international networks will have no issues withdrawing money. Holders of Chinese Union Pay cards will not have trouble either withdrawing local currency from their accounts. ATMs usually dispense patacas or dollars (100 and 500 notes) and some will also dispense Chinese renminbi currency.

Changing to or from patacas outside of Macau is almost impossible even in Hong Kong, so any patacas should be spent or changed before leaving the SAR. The money changers at the Barrier Gate provide good exchange rates; however, if you wish to change money before you arrive then change into Hong Kong dollars.

Visa and MasterCard credit cards are widely accepted in major restaurants, stores and the ferry terminal but some merchants may require a minimum purchase amount, usually $100.

Tipping is generally not practised, though bellhops may expect about MOP10 or so for carrying your bags. In full service restaurants, a service charge is usually imposed and that is taken to be the tip. However, you should know that the 10% service charge may not go to the specific people who served you. Rather, it is used by the owners to pay the salaries of these employees.

If you wish to give a tip, you should give it in cash directly to the person you wish to reward for their good service. Taxi drivers also do not expect tips, and will return exact change, or round it in your favour if they can't be bothered to dig for change.

Shopping
While the newer megacasinos have introduced Macau to the joys of sterile franchise-filled malls, the city centre streets around the older casinos are still a bizarre monoculture of ridiculously expensive watch, jewellery and Chinese medicine shops,with an emphasis on herbal Viagra-type cures, all aimed squarely at liberating lucky gamblers from their winnings.

Finding tasteful souvenirs can thus be surprisingly challenging, although the streets between Largo do Senado and the ruins of St. Paul's and in particular Rua da Tercena, do have a scattering of local art and antique shops.

Bargaining in the small shops can be done, usually working on the model of the shopkeeper quoting a price, the buyer making "hmmm" sounds and the shopkeeper lowering the price a bit. A full-fledged haggling match is quite rare, as most antique shops sell precisely the same things at precisely the same prices.

For a more Western shopping experience, head to New Yaohan on Ave Doutor Mário Soares n˚90. There is a bakery and supermarket on the 6th floor. On the other floors there are fashion, perfumes and everything else you would expect from a department store, but expect much higher prices to what you are used to.

Dining
Macau is famous for excellent restaurants, unique cuisine and mellow bars. Above all, the city is famous for Macanese and Chinese cuisines: .

Portuguese food (cozinha portuguesa), brought in by its Portuguese colonizers, is hearty, salty, straighforward fare. While many restaurants claim to serve the stuff, fully authentic fare is mostly limited to a few high-end restaurants, especially the cluster at the southwestern tip of the Peninsula. Typical Portuguese dishes include:

- pato de cabidela (bloody duck), Duck meat stewed in duck blood, vinegar and herbs, served with rice; sounds and looks somewhat scary, but it's excellent when well done
- bacalhau (salted cod), traditionally served with potatoes and veggies
- caldo verde, a soup of potato, chopped kale and chourico sausage
- eijoada (kidney-bean stew), a Brazilian staple common in Macau as well
- pastéis de nata (egg tarts), crispy and flaky on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside

Macanese food (comida de Macau) was created when Portuguese and Chinese influences were mixed together with spices brought from Africa and South-East Asia by traders, and many restaurants advertising "Portuguese" food in fact serve up mostly Macanese dishes. Seafood and barbecue specialist Fernando's on Coloane's Hac Sa Beach is probably the best-known restaurant serving this mixed cuisine.

- Almond cookies. Dry Chinese-style cookies flavoured with almond. Macau's top souvenir, they're compact, durable and hence sold pretty much everywhere.
- Galinha à africana (African-style chicken). Barbequed chicken coated in spicy piri-piri sauce.
- Galinha à portuguesa (Portuguese-style chicken). Chicken in a coconutty curry; despite the name, this is not a Portuguese dish at all, but a purely Macanese invention.
- Pork chop bun. The Macanese version of a hamburger, the name pretty much says it all: it's a slice of freshly fried pork (often with a few chunks of bone left) with a dash of pepper placed inside a freshly baked bun.
- Beef Jerky. More moist and fresh than typical jerky, and quite delicious. Easily found on the street leading up to the Ruins of St. Paul, where venders will push free samples at you as you walk by with great enthusiasm. Be sure to try them all before choosing the one you like best!
- Minchi. Minced meat with fried potato cubes, served on white rice.

All that said, the food of choice in Macau is still pure Cantonese, and a few aficionados even claim that the dim sum and seafood here beat those in Hong Kong. The streets of central Macau are littered with simple eateries offering rice and noodle dishes for under $30 (although menus are often only in Chinese), while every casino hotel worth its salt has a fancy Cantonese seafood restaurant where you can blow away your gambling winnings on abalone and shark's fin soup.

The greatest concentration of restaurants is in the Peninsula, where they are scattered throughout the district. Taipa is now a major destination for those going for Portuguese and Macanese food and there are many famous restaurants on the island. There are several restaurants in Coloane, which is also home to the famous Lord Stow's Bakery, which popularized the Macanese egg tart. Yummy!

Drinks
Reasonably priced Portuguese wine is widely available. A glass in a restaurant is around $20, while bottles start from under $100, and a crisp glass of vinho verde ("green wine", but actually just a young white) goes very well with salty Macanese food. As elsewhere in China, though, locals tend to prefer cognacs and whisky. Macau Beer is widely available and roughly $8 for a 330 ml bottle in supermarkets. There is also a wine museum which you can have the opportunity to taste over 50 varieties of wine.

There is a buzzing nightlife in Macau. There are a variety of bars and clubs along the Avenida Sun Yat Sen close to the Kum Iam Statue and the Cultural Centre where you can have a good night out. Locals, especially among younger people, prefer to meet up with their friends in Western style cafes or places that serve 'bubble tea'. 'Bubble tea' is usually fruit flavoured tea served with tapioca balls and can be served either hot or cold.

The shops in town centre (near Senado Square) often open until late at night and are often crowded. The casinos have also become a big hit for entertainment, offering performances of international standard (advance booking advised) and comprehensive shopping malls for those less interested in trying their luck on the machines.

For those who want to pamper themselves after a shopping spree, there are spas available in almost all respectable hotels. Note that these are different to "saunas", which are thinly disguised brothels (prostitution is legal in Macau), but these can be easily distinguishable by their shop appearance.
Sleep

Macau is very backpacker unfriendly. Due to government regulations there are no hostels in operation and the one YHA requires special permission for lodging. Therefore if you are a backpacker then it is better to stay in Hong Kong and come to Macau for the day, unless you're willing to spend $190 per night for a bed with no facilities.

The bulk of Macau's hotels are on the Peninsula and Cotai, although there are also many options - including high-end ones - on Taipa. Coloane, which offers fewer and much quieter options, has accommodation ranging from the famous Pousada de Coloane to Macau's two beach-side youth hostels.

Hotel rates are most expensive on Friday and Saturday nights because demand is higher with tourists coming to Macau to gamble over the weekend. Try to make a booking through a travel agent, even if for the same day, as the rates can be substantially lower than walk-in rates. If you are coming from Hong Kong, book through an agent at the Shun Tak ferry pier for the best deals. Getting a package deal including return ferry tickets gives you the best price.

In the Inner Harbour area, many of the pensions and two star hotels are also the place of business for many of the mainland PRC prostitutes that work in Macau, and most hotel "saunas" are in fact thinly disguised brothels.

Hotel listings are in the individual district pages. Budget accommodation is one that carries a 2-star rating or below, a mid-range place has a 3-star rating, and a splurge place has a 4-star rating or above.The cheapest hotels on a weekday are around $190.

Hotel Metropole Macau, Avenida da Praia Grande Macau, Macau,. As the first City Boutique Hotel in Macau, we are devote ourselves to service our guest with efficiency and courtesy to express the meaning of Boutique service. CNY400 - 1200.

Macau has 12 tertiary education institutions. Besides some smaller and more specialized schools (Security Forces School, Tourism School, European Studies Institute, etc), the ones of importance are:

University of Macau. The oldest and most popular university, established in 1981 (then under the name University of East Asia). Offers degree programmes in a wide variety of fields at all levels, including pre-university courses, bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees. The majority of degrees are taught in English, except education and law which are taught in a choice of either Chinese (Cantonese) or Portuguese.

Macau University of Science and Technology. Established after the 1999 handover of Macau to China, courses are mainly taught in Chinese (Mandarin) by professors from the mainland, and a significant portion of its student population draws from the mainland too.

Macau Polytechnic Institute. A spin-off of the former University of East Asia, it was established in 1991 to provide practice-oriented education and training mainly to the local population.

Macau Inter-University Institute. Established in 1996, it originally only offered postgraduate education, but since 2005 also offers undergraduate degree courses, and since 2006 pre-university courses, mainly in the humanities.

Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) . Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies （Portuguese: Instituto de Formação Turística，Chinese:is a public institution of higher education which is administered by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government. The institution offers degrees in tourism, culinary arts, event, retail, heritage, and hotel management.

Employment

Non-residents who wish to take up employment in Macau, including those from Portugal or China, need to obtain a valid work permit and are then issued the so-called Blue Card,officially called Non-Resident Worker's Permit. The process takes approximately a month to receive a work permit, at which time employment may begin, and another 1-2 months to receive the Blue Card.

As illegal employment has over the past decades been a problem plaguing Macau, the authorities do crack down severely on any offenders (both worker and employer) caught. Visitors are therefore advised not to engage in illegal employment.
Stay safe
Severe weather

There is a risk of typhoons, mainly between July and September. A system of typhoon warnings is in place that are issued by the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau and are broadcast widely on television and radio:

The typhoon warning system is basically a copy of the system used in Hong Kong.

- Number 1: tropical cyclone is within 800 km of Macau
- Number 3: tropical cyclone is likely to bring winds of 41-62 km/h to Macau, with gusts of 110 km/h (usually issued when the typhoon is within 300 km of Macau)
- Number 8: tropical cyclone is nearing Macau, bringing with it winds of 63-117 km/h, and gusts of up to 180 km/h
- Number 9: the centre of the tropical cyclone is approaching Macau and it is expected that Macau will be severely affected
- Number 10: the centre of the tropical cyclone will hit Macau directly, with mean wind speed over 118 km/h and intense gusts

During a number 8, 9 or 10 typhoon everything in Macau shuts down. People stay home and it is not advisable to venture outside as there is the risk of injury or worse from flying debris.
Crime

It should be pointed out that compared to many other cities in the world, Macau is relatively safe to travel. The standard of living of the local Macau residents is generally good (one of the best in Asia). In addition, as a city geared towards tourism, the Macau government is keen to "clean up" the city and its image. For example, the police in Macau are now seen by the public as more effective than they used to be.

Points To Note When You Travel To Macau.

- You should beware of pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like tourist attractions and the border stations. Keep your valuables somewhere safe. Pickpockets usually come in a group and use one person to distract people while the others work.

- Be wary of harassment from street prostitutes and hawkers handing out leaflets/flyers.

- Recently a scam involving mainland Chinese visitors asking for money has become widespread, mainly in downtown Macau. These people, who are usually properly dressed, claim to have lost their wallet and not to have eaten the whole day, asking for $20-30 to buy some food. The police have issued warnings in the local media not to give money to these people.

- In the mid-90s, Macau had some vicious gang wars among the triads, mobsters with automatic weapons. Macau police had the situation partly under control by the time the Chinese took over in 1999. The current government seems to have it entirely under control; there has been no sign of open mob conflict in this century. The triads usually don't bother ordinary people, so the advice is not to mess with them (such as by borrowing money from loan sharks and then failing to repay it), and they won't mess with you!

- Macau has a large taxi shortage problem, and aside from long queues for taxis, taxi drivers often illegaly ask inflated prices without turning on the meter, or refuse to take passengers to undesirable destinations. Dishonest taxi drivers often approach people near taxi stands or casinos, offering rides for 2-5 times more than the legal metered fares, practice known in Macau as "fishing". Kidnappings in a locked in taxi are also not unheard of.

Health

One unexpected cause of sickness in Macau is the extreme temperature change between 35°C (95°F) humid summer weather outdoors and 18°C (65°F) air-conditioned buildings. Some people experience cold symptoms after moving between the two extremes often; it is not unusual to wear a sweater or covering to stay warm indoors, and it is therefore usually good advice to carry a long-sleeve item of clothing when expecting to visit air-conditioned places for extended periods of time.

Whilst tap water is technically safe to drink (taste aside), most locals boil or filter their water or buy inexpensive bottled water, which you are also recommended to do so. A 2.5 litre bottle of drinking water starts around $0.25 in supermarkets.

There have been some cases of Dengue fever in recent years. The government has proactively sprayed insecticide in areas where there is potential of mosquito breeding, so this risk is largely contained. However it is best to avoid being bitten by using mosquito repellent and/or wearing long clothing, especially at dusk.

Socialize

People in Macau are generally friendly to foreigners,given the fact that Macau had hundreds of years of Portuguese colonial rule, the locals, even the older population are used to living side by side with Westerners. However, do not assume the locals speak English (or Portuguese) and a few essential Cantonese phrases are always helpful.

When visiting Chinese temples basic respect should be shown, but taking photos is usually allowed and you don't need to ask for permission as long as there isn't a no-photography sign posted.

Binge-drinking or drunken behavior is not tolerated in Macau.

For a comprehensive list of respecting local culture, see the "Respect" section of Hong Kong, which is very similar to Macau.
Contact

Macau's international dialing prefix is 853.

The tourist information offices on Largo do Senado and at the jetfoil terminal have maps, information on museums and events, helpful English-speaking staff, and at the Largo do Senado office free Internet access. You may have to queue for the Internet, since there are only a few machines.

Chinoy Express, Rua De Mercadores. A cheap and fast internet cafe ($5/hr) right near Rua De Felicidade. Serves cheap snacks and right across the road is a Filipino bakery with cheap and tasty breads and very large bottles of San Miguel ($6).

Mobile phones
Macau has excellent mobile phone coverage. Macau has both GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100 networks. Check with your operator. Phone plans stemming from the Mainland require proper set-up for use outside of the Mainland.

Wifi

Macau has extensive free wifi coverage throughout the city. It is known as the wifigo system. You can also use the encrypted service wifigo-s. The username is "wifigo" and the password is "wifigo"

UAE: Emirates Launch Flights To Hong Kong

Emirates is set to boost its service to Hong Kong with the arrival of a 615-seater superjumbo, while Cathay Pacific will launch new summer flights to Barcelona in a double coup for the airport.

The Dubai carrier will start regular service with its Airbus A380 on the Dubai-Bangkok-Hong Kong service – flights EK384/385 – from October 1, according to aviation data tracking service Airline Route. The airline confirmed the aircraft would be upsized and it would also be deployed to the city over the Lunar New Year in response to high demand during the holiday period.

The existing service provides 517 seats. But first class will be scrapped entirely and some business class seats will be removed to make room for economy class seats.

The extra seats will mean more cheap airfare opportunities for travellers to Bangkok and Dubai. Emirates’ low-fare strategy has already caused much anger and frustration among rival airlines in Asia, Europe and the United States.

The airline currently operates four daily flights between Dubai and Hong Kong, including one via Bangkok, three of which are served by the Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world.

Will Horton, a Hong Kong-based aviation analyst at CAPA Centre for Aviation, said the upgrade of the Emirates flight to 615 seats was ideal for cost-conscious Hongkongers.

“The routing through Hong Kong and Bangkok brings the aircraft back to Dubai in time for European connections. So hub efficiency is maintained,” Horton said. “Emirates grows Bangkok capacity at key hours and can offer a lower-cost option for the Hong Kong market compared to the non-stop to Dubai, and also make a play in picking up local Hong Kong-Bangkok traffic.”
Airlines have sought ways to grow at Hong Kong International Airport in recent years as the number of take-off and landing slots have become increasingly scarce as the two runways reach full capacity.

Budget carrier HK Express took delivery of the world’s first 188-seat single-aisle Airbus A320neo aircraft (neo stands for new engine option), in response to the challenges, adding up to 14 seats compared to its existing aircraft.

In more good news for the Airport Authority, home carrier Cathay Pacific announced it intended to launch a new summer seasonal service to Barcelona, Spain, from July, adding to the airport’s global footprint.

The expansion raises Cathay’s list of European destinations to 13, including the launch of Tel Aviv in Israel from March.
“Barcelona isn’t important for the sake of Barcelona but rather launching it seasonally shows Cathay is willing to break away from regimented consistency,” Horton said. “What you fly in July you don’t have to fly in February. It’s a positive sign about becoming more agile.”

Cathay, Hong Kong’s largest carrier, said it would fly four times a week deploying its next-generation Airbus A350 aircraft. The service is expected to run until October, during the peak of the summer travel season. The airline currently flies four times a week to the Spanish capital Madrid.

Enjoy Christmass At Your Favourite Airport

CHRISTMAS is usually one of the busiest times for travel. Here’s travel site Wego’s pick of terminals that pull out all the stops to celebrate the festive occasion

1. HEATHROW AIRPORT

The UK’s foremost airport in London is spreading Christmas cheer across all terminals with selected restaurants offering free meals for kids, art and craft, and visits from Pingu, The Snowman and Peppa Pig, with Santa and his elves distributing lollies to very well-behaved passengers!

Heathrow has created special boiled sweets called the Boarding Bon Bons with flavours of turkey, sage and onion stuffing that taste surprisingly like a Christmas meal. And there are also sweets that taste of Christmas pudding with hints of brandy butter, raisin and Christmas spices. To celebrate Terminal 2’s first Christmas, a 2D vinyl Christmas tree will glow with interactive lights. Passengers can make the lights flash by Tweeting hashtag #T2Christmas.

2. VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Expect to be serenaded by entertainers embracing the holiday spirit. This year you’ll hear the sounds of the Vancouver Opera, Jennifer Scott Duo, Steinway Young Artists Program, St Andrews School Choir and Clare Brett’s Mrs Claus Musical Christmas Show.

On top of that, you can save your gift wrapping for after your check-in — have them wrapped for free in a number of locations throughout the airport.

3. CHANGI AIRPORT

Named the World’s Best Airport for the fifth time at this year’s Skytrax World Airport Awards, Singapore’s Changi has some rather unique activities, including the interactive multi-sensory show Changi’s Christmas Wonderland that the kids will definitely love. It even snows for some 8 minutes.

Other activities include roving stiltwalkers, puppets, magic shows, storytelling and exquisite decorations. And meet Mickey Mouse and his friends.

Apart from a German-inspired centrepiece, there are also picturesque displays of snowy Swiss chalets at the Terminal 3 transit area, traditional Japanese cottages at the Terminal 2 transit area, a Broadway-styled New York City at the Terminal 1 transit area as well as 5-metre-high Spanish-themed Mickey and Minnie Mouse topiaries at the Terminal 2 public area.

Take a photo of youself and either Mickey or Minnie Mouse plush toys, tag #CHANGIXMAS14 on Instagram, and you may win a whole lot more!

4. HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The airport is taking bling to the next level, featuring a 16-metre-tall Swarovski Christmas tree in Terminal 1. Spanning two levels, both arrival and departure halls, the tree is made up of over a million glittering Swarovski crystals from Austria.

“A Beary White Christmas,” featuring the characters from local illustrator Bigsoil, welcomes travellers in front of a giant Christmas box. Take a selfie with the characters and share it on your social media page with the hashtag #HKIAxmas for the chance to win daily prizes.

There will also be surprise a cappella flash mobs of local arts students performing during pre-boarding times, Candy Crush art pieces are placed in the baggage reclaim hall, magicians from Las Vegas, Taiwan and Hong Kong and for the first time, a state-of-the-art light show in the departure concourse.

5. FRANKFURT AIRPORT

You can expect an authentically European Christmas at one of Germany’s busiest airports, the Frankfurt Airport. From the check-in counters and beyond to the security check, you’ll be surrounded by decorations to create a truly Christmassy atmosphere.

Live music with the singing angels of Engelsgleich and marketplaces which highlight the European festive season complete the Christmas feel. Shops, bars and restaurants will distribute treats and interactive, instant-win Christmas lotteries can be redeemed through the airport’s social media channels.

6. LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

LAX adds its own touches with decorated shuttles and musical performances by school kids and community choirs.

Among the interesting feature is its popular Pets Unstressing Passengers therapy dogs or Pups which will provide a soothing distraction to the hectic pace of an airport. Over the festive season, Pups will be dressed appropriately in their colourful Christmas gear. Cuteness overload!

7. HELSINKI AIRPORT

With Nordic lights twinkling, Finnair’s choir surprised passengers with a flash mob to launch the festive season in mid last month. This far north and on Santa’s home turf, it’s not surprising that Santa here is the most authentic you’re likely to come across. He’ll be sharing chocolate and other treats with passengers throughout December.

Look for the freshly-made mulled wine, cinnamon buns and other seasonal delicacies. In true Christmas style, the airport declined to share more, only that many more surprises would be revealed throughout the month.

CHINA: Woman Arrested After Throwing Orange Juice At Cathay Pacific Attendant

A 36-year-old woman was arrested on Saturday morning for common assault after allegedly throwing orange juice at a flight attendant.

Police officers met Cathay Pacific flight CX746 from Dubai on arrival at Hong Kong International Airport at 5am to arrest the disruptive passenger.

The mainland traveller was hauled away by several police officers after throwing juice at a 25-year-old female flight attendant.

The row began when the woman, who was travelling in a large party, got angry because meals for children had not been prepared in advance.

This sparked an altercation with cabin crew, leading to orange juice being thrown.

A police report said: “Personnel arrived at the scene, and the victim was not hurt.”

The woman was arrested on suspicion of common assault, the report continued.

A Cathay Pacific spokeswoman said: “A passenger caused an incident this morning on flight CX746 from Dubai to Hong Kong, and a case has been submitted to the police, therefore I am unable to provide more information.”

HONG KONG: Passengers Kept Awake And Hungry At Hong Kong International Airport

A combination of military drills and bad weather in eastern China left thousands of passengers headed for Shanghai and nearby cities stranded at Hong Kong International Airport for more than 12 hours.

At least 13 flights scheduled for Shanghai Pudong International Airport from 10.55am were still grounded at the airport by 9pm. Passengers with Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Hong Kong Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, and Spring Airlines were affected.

No flights departed for Shanghai Pudong International Airport from Hong Kong after 10am because of a combination of air traffic restrictions over eastern China caused by a military drill in the morning and rainy weather in the afternoon, according to airport ground staff.

Zhang Jun, a Dragonair passenger who was having his 50th birthday, was one of many passengers who had been waiting since 4pm. “My biggest birthday wish is to leave now,” he said, standing next to the airline’s counter as it was besieged by angry passengers.

Zhang said he is a frequent traveller to Shanghai but has never seen delays of this kind.

“I have lots of experience with delays on the mainland caused by air traffic control. What I cannot accept is being given new departure times every two hours. If there is no departure time, tell us there is no time.”

A Cathay manager at the scene denied the departure times were arbitrarily set but said they were based on possible departure slots from Shanghai air traffic control.

Passengers in transit who had come from long-haul flights from New York, New Delhi and Singapore complained Cathay Pacific and Dragonair had kept them awake too long without offering any place to rest, nor any food or drink while waiting, endangering their health. They were unsatisfied with the airlines’ explanation of the situation and demanded compensation.

“We are a group of 19 seniors. Many of us have not slept for nearly 24 hours. Now it’s 10pm, we do not want to leave anymore and just want to be put in a hotel and rest. They kept lying to us by giving us new times and keeping us waiting here,” said Ren Hongxing, a 70-year old man from Shanghai who was returning from a Malaysia-Singapore tour via Hong Kong.

Passengers on his flight had boarded and waited for four hours on the aircraft before being offloaded. A delay certificate issued by Dragonair said the flight - originally scheduled for 1pm - was delayed because of “adverse weather” and “air traffic flow control”.

Dragonair ground staff said “Shanghai has given us no time. We do not know if and when a flight could take off.”

Air traffic controls over eastern China last summer caused delays of up to 15 hours at the Hong Kong international airport.

Cathay cancelled CX5808/KA808, a Shanghai Pudong bound flight originally scheduled for 4:55pm, at around 10pm. By 11pm, passengers on the 10:55am CX 5804/KA804 flight had boarded the plane but still did not take off.

Hundreds of passengers from three other Shanghai-bound flights were still waiting near midnight in the hope of getting a chance to depart.

As of 9am Wednesday morning, all flights had been rescheduled and many were still waiting to depart.

CHINA: China’s Airports And Airlines Worst In Flight Delays

Mainland facilities and carriers lag far behind the international competition as management fails to keep up with the demand for travel.

Chinese airports and airlines were the worst in the world for being on time last year, according to a US-based company that tracks air travel around the globe.

Among the world's 61 largest airports, the seven worst performers for on-time departures were all mainland airports, with Hangzhou's Xiaoshan, Shanghai's Hongqiao and Shanghai's Pudong facilities taking the bottom three spots, according to FlightStats, a US-based data provider on air travel.

Just 37.74 per cent of flights left on time from Xiaoshan, 37.17 per cent from Hongqiao and 37.26 per cent from Pudong.

Those three were closely followed in the survey by Shenzhen Baoan, Guangzhou Baiyun, Chongqing Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport.

Out of the world's largest 61 airports, Japan's Haneda Airport was the best with an on-time rate of 89.76 per cent. The best performer among the 374 world airports of all sizes looked at by FlightStats was another Japanese airport, Itami, with an on-time rate of 94.56 per cent.

Zou Jianjun, from the Civil Aviation Management Institute of China, said management of China's facilities had not kept up with demand and the network was concentrated in a few areas.

"Flight lines are too centralised in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and it's a big challenge for their managers," he said. "Even if a small mistake happens at any of these major airports, it's quite possible that flights in other cities will be affected."

The results were no better within the region, with Chinese airports languishing in the bottom half of the 121 Asia -Pacific facilities of all sizes examined last year. Hong Kong International Airport also slipped, down from No22 in the region in January 2013 to 80th last year.

There were no mainland or Hong Kong airlines in the world's top 10 for on-time arrivals last year, FlightStats said. The world leader was KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which had 88.66 per cent of its flights arrive on time.

The results reflect the all-too-common experience of cancelled or delayed flights at mainland airports, experts said.

Zhang Wuan, spokesman for Shanghai-based budget carrier Spring Airlines, said the poor showing by mainland airlines and airports was the result of the rapid growth in civil aviation.

About 390 million passengers took flights on the mainland in 2014, double the total for 2009, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The Civil Aviation Data Analysis website said that about 65 per cent of mainland flights left on time last year.

The website said that if all the extra time that passengers and crew spent waiting on the tarmac for flights to take off on the mainland in 2014 was added up, it would amount to about 232 years.

Even notified flight delays added up to about 183 years, it said.

Poor management at airports and carriers was compounded by bad weather last month during the peak Lunar New Year travel season, a traditional time for family reunions.

FlightStats said there were 92,839 delays by mainland airlines compared with 32,428 delays by carriers in the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

Most mainland airlines' on-time arrival rates were about 50 per cent last month, with Shenzhen Airlines recording a rate of as low as 37.4 per cent and an average delay of 64 minutes. Xiamen Airlines was even worse with 33.82 per cent on-time arrival rate and an average delay of 70 minutes.