China : Safety by City
China - safety as a country Macau is a Chinese city, the most famous for its gambling facilities and it has, in some terms, even exceeded Las Vegas.
What makes it attractive to people seeking cultural and historical data is the fact that it is the first and last European colony in China, representing a perfect connection between East and West.
It is full of churches, temples and other old buildings dating from the period of Portuguese rule, hundreds of narrow alleyways and several pretty gardens attractive to the people around the globe.
The main sights of Macau are a statue of the Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara, Rua da Tercena – the flea market street in Macau, the Macau Tower and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Warnings & Dangers in Macau
OVERALL RISK: LOW
In comparison to other major cities in the world, Macau is considered quite safe for travelers. Also, the city constantly develops its tourism, so the Macau government tends to make the city clean of crimes. Petty crimes are common, while the more serious one is very rare.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Because there are not enough taxi drivers in Macau, and the demand is on the constant rise, taxi drivers tend to be dishonest and overcharge tourists. There have been reports of taxi drivers who stole customer’s luggage or even some kidnapping in the taxi vehicles. Since most taxi drivers do not speak a language other than Chinese, it is a good idea to have your destination written in Chinese.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
To protect yourself from thieves, you need to remain cautious, particularly in the crowded streets and in front of the famous landmarks of Macau. Pickpockets and purse snatching are common and thieves usually come in a group. One of them distracts people’s attention while others steal purses and wallets.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
There is a constant risk of typhoons in Macau, and there is even a warning system according to which people in Macau tend to behave. The tourists who decide to visit Macao need to be familiar with this system. When there is the warning of the most dangerous typhoon, people stay at home and do not go out, due to the risk of being injured. Some other possible dangers are storms, flooding, and landslides.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
Violent crimes, like mugging and kidnapping, especially against tourists were not reported in Macau. These kinds of assaults are possible against Macau citizens and they usually happen away from tourist's eyes. Nevertheless, watchfulness and vigilance are advisable.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
The possibility rate of a terrorist attack in Macau is low, but the greater military pressure on the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq increases the risk of it. Macau’s casinos might be a target for Islamic terrorists.
SCAMS RISK: HIGH
As in most of China, fake money is a huge problem, especially when tourists are in question. They need to pay attention when exchanging money in places that are not licensed for that. There are also people claiming to have lost their wallet and asking for money. Try to avoid these kinds of people, and do not show your cash in public.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Female travelers are relatively safe in Macau, as well as in the whole China. Even though there are no reports of serious crimes done on female tourists, they need to act as in any other country where the risk of assault is at a higher level.
So... How Safe Is Macau Really?
A Chinese city of Macau, which represents a mixture of the Eastern and Western culture and architecture, with its enormous casinos and a big part of the city that has been put under the UNESCO World Heritage site protection is well worth visiting.
While touring the heritage buildings, like the Sao Paulo Cathedral, the Fort and the Macau Museum, tourists should not worry about personal safety since the police are very effective in terms of preventing and stopping possible criminal acts.
Macau had some gang wars, but the Macau police managed to put the situation under control.
Less serious crimes, such as pickpocketing and scamming are present in Macau, and the following of a few simple safety rules is enough to stay safe here.
How Does Macau Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Macau | 66 |
| Shanghai | 66 |
| Tianjin | 67 |
| Hong Kong | 70 |
| Guangzhou | 64 |
| Shenzhen | 64 |
| Beijing | 65 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
| Sao Paulo (Brazil) | 45 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
Useful Information
Visas
A valid passport is necessary documentation when entering China. There are 51 nations whose citizens can have 72 hours of transit time in China. Macau has a special immigration rule since all travelers have to go through immigration and customs checks. If you require a visa, you can get it in a Chinese embassy or consulate, or once you arrive in Macau.
Currency
Yuan or renminbi, in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, and 1 yuan, is the official currency in China. You can get your money from ATMs in big cities, and bear in mind that most of the services in China are still paid in cash.
Weather
Macau has a subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. Summer season is a typhoon season, so it should be avoided since many of the activities stop there. The winter winds cause the temperature to drop below 0°C. July and August are the hottest months of the year.
Airports
Macau’s major airport is Macau International Airport which serves many international flights and is one of the busiest in China. It is located on Taipa island and can handle about 6 million passengers per year.
Travel Insurance
The travel insurance policy which covers theft and medical problems is always suggested when traveling abroad. If you are interested in some dangerous activities, make sure that your policy covers injuries to these. Problems can never be predicted.
Macau Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 18 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 24 | 20 |
| Low °C | 12 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 14 |
| High °F | 64 | 64 | 70 | 77 | 82 | 86 | 90 | 88 | 86 | 82 | 75 | 68 |
| Low °F | 54 | 55 | 61 | 68 | 75 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 77 | 72 | 64 | 57 |
China - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Beijing | 65 |
| Guangzhou | 64 |
| Hong Kong | 70 |
| Macau | 66 |
| Shanghai | 66 |
| Shenzhen | 64 |
| Tianjin | 67 |
| Tibet | 87 |
| Xinjiang | 80 |
Currency is not in Yuan but Macau pataca (MOP), HKD also works. If you only plan to visit Macau but not other parts of China, you only need to apply for the Macau visa. The visas of Macau is approved by Macau government and you get the visa of Macau from Chinese Mainland government
been living here for almost 30 years, never saw any robbing at all, u can pretty much wear ur gold , rolex, dress like a queen that no one will touch u, at night its pretty safe for a man or woman alone, and since there are cameras and cops everywhere or almost, crimes are pretty low, or almost non, just make sure dont get scam by taxi drivers, they love to add more haha
This…..The main sights of Macau are a statue of the Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara, Rua da Tercena – the flea market street in Macau, the Macau Tower and Fisherman’s Wharf.
I have to wonder if you the writer has actually been to Macau. Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara? I think you meant either the giant A-Ma Temple in Coloane or the Kun Iam Statue on the southern end of the N.A.P.E.
Rua da Tercena(?) – Nobody goes there for sightseeing. Perhaps you meant the nearby and famous Rua de Felicidade (Red Street). It is very popular with tourists.
Sadly, only Macau Tower from your list can be included amongst main sights for tourism in Macau. The list should have included the Ruins of St. Paul, Senado Square, St. Dominic’s Church and A-Ma Temple for starters. You could also include Rua do Cunha in Taipa Village. If you wanted to list a few of the better museums with Macau Museum at Monte Forte, Maritime Museum at Barra Square and Macau Museum of Art (known as MAM). As for the Cotai Strip, some of the most important are Venetian Casino and Complex, City of Dreams, Parisian, Studio City, MGM Cotai (free cable car ride over the Performance Lake). Hope this helps.
As the other poster above noted, your listed currency for Macau is incorrect. The official currency here in the Pateca (MOP), not the Yuan from mainland China. Do note as well that Hong Kong dollars (HKD) are widely accepted throughout Macau and are the price usually given for high end purchases, hotel room rates and betting in the city casinos.
I’m a South African with a z visa working in mainland China, I want to visit Macau for a couple days soon, will I be able to?
Well worth a visit but pay attention
Be careful that you know money really well and not do exchanges in the wrong places. You can get scammed with ease here as there are plenty of scammers around. I got scammed once but I learned from it and the rest of the trip was nice. You have a lot of monuments and other cultural places to see. There’s a mix between culture and gambling here that while it sounds weird, actually works.