Macao, also spelled Macau, is located on the western side of the Pearl River estuary, at the head of which is the Chinese part of Canton, Macao stands opposite Hong Kong, which is on the eastern side of the estuary. It comprises a small, narrow peninsula projecting from Guangdong Province and includes the island of Taipei and Coloane, with a total area of 17 square Km. Its name is derived from the Chinese A-mango an “Bay of the Godness for A-ma”, the patroness of sailors.

The first Portuguese ship anchored in the Pearl River estuary in 1513, and further Portuguese visits followed regularly. The Portuguese Government forced a rent of the territory in 1553, and Macao became the principal entrepot for international trade with China and Japan. After the Opium War, the Portuguese Government ceased paying the rent and simply seized the land by force. Even though, Chinese trade with the outside world was gradually centralized in Canton towards the end of 18th century, merchants were allowed into Canton only during the trading season——from November to May——and the international merchant community was established at Macao. By the mid-19th century Hong Kong had eclipsed Macao in trade, and within a few years the merchants had largely deserted Macao for Hong Kong, and Macao never again became a major entrepot.

In 1987 Portugal and China reached an agreement to return Macao to Chinese rule in December 20, 1999, they agreed upon provisions to insure the autonomy of Macao, including its might to elect local leaders, the right of its residents to travel freely, and the right to maintain its way of life 50 years after the start of Chinese rule. 

The Portuguese government transferred sovereignty over Macau to the People's Republic of China on December 20. Macao was the oldest European colony in China, dating back to the 16th century.