Transport in Macau

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Buses and taxis are the major modes of public transport in Macau. Bus services are frequent and inexpensive,cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com.mo/english/introduction.htm|title=About TCM|publisher=macau.ctm.net|accessdate=2007-05-24] linking the Macau peninsula, Taipa, Cotai and Coloane. Transmac and TCM are the sole operators of Macau's bus services. Most hotels(four-starred or above) and gaming venues operate their own fleet of shuttle bus service between the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal or Porta do Cerco (Macau's border to mainland China) and their premises.

Taxis are plentiful near the airport, the Hong Kong-Macau ferry terminal, and major gaming venues/hotels in the city cite web|url=http://www.cityguide.gov.mo/transport/taxi/taxi_e.asp|title=Public Transportation - Taxi Service|publisher=City Guide of Macau, Govt. of Macau|accessdate=2007-05-24] though it is rather hard to get one during rush hours on the streets. There are two types of livery on Macau's taxis - one is a black body with cream color top (the black cab) and the other is yellow on the whole (the yellow cab). Radio taxis are available, and there are two hotlines for the black and yellow cabs respectively [ [http://www.cityguide.gov.mo/transport/taxi/taxi_e.asp Taxi information, City Guide of Macau] ] .

In order to enhance the quality of taxi services, such as eliminate the language barrier between taxi drivers and passengers, the Tourist Office has provided most taxis with a destination guide which includes the names of the most requested destinations in Chinese, Portuguese and English.

The trishaw, a hybrid of the tricycle and the rickshaw, is a unique mode of transport in Macau, though it is mainly for sightseeing purposes. They can easily be found next to Hotel Lisboa and the Macau ferry terminal waiting for passengers.

Railways

There are currently no railways in Macau, but a proposal has been put forward to link Macau by extending the Guangzhou Railway to Cotai through Hengqin Island [" Macau - Meeting Point: a Legacy for the Future" (1999), published by the Comissão Territorial de Macau para es Comemorações does Descobrimentos Portugueses, p.6.] . However, no decisions have yet been made so far.

In a few years time, the city of Macau will have a new mode of public transport, the Macau Light Transit System, in service. The proposal is currently under public consultation and a decision will be made on the design route and its operation after the consultation ends. The Macau Light Transit System is a planned mass transit system, similar to the Singapore Light Rapid Transit. The tracks will be a mix of elevated guideways and underground tunnels, ensuring a dedicated right-of-way separated from road traffic. When completed it will serve passengers from the Macau Peninsula, Taipa island, the Cotai reclamation and Macau International Airport. The Government of Macau introduced the proposal to the public in October 2006 cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/travel/185877.htm|title=Macao to Invest in Elevated Light Metro|publisher=China.org.cn|accessdate=2006-10-24] , with a revised version announced in July 2007 after further adjustments and improvements had been made with reference to comments by the public.

Others

The Macau Maritime Museum [en icon [http://www.museumaritimo.gov.mo/index_e.html Homepage] ] used to have two sailing vessels (which were based on the ancient "junk" form but were remodeled) serving for touring trips between the inner and outer harbours. Along the trip, the crew would introduce the general lifestyle and customs of the local boat dwellers. However, due to the land reclamation works in the harbour and the maintenance of the boats, all trips have been suspended.

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Currently, over 150 sea-crossing services are scheduled daily between Macau and Hong Kong cite web |url=http://www.turbojet.com.hk/turbojet_serviceroutes_rev.htm |title=Service route, onboard Service and Facilities of Turbojet |publisher=Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Limited |accessdate=2007-05-24] , and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Macau serves as the major terminal for Macau's passenger traffic by sea. The route is served by high speed catamarans (with passenger capacity of 400 max) and jetfoils (with passenger capacity of 260 max) and the journey takes approximately one hour. There are also daily scheduled ferry services between Macau and Shenzhen. At present the services are operated by TurboJET (from Sheung Wan) and New World First Ferry Macau {from Tsim Sha Tsui). Cotai Jet also operates services between Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong. Apart from the sea routes there are also regular scheduled helicopter services between Hong Kong and Macau, which are operated by Heli Express. The trip takes approximately 20 minutes.

A few years ago a new sea-crossing service was launched by TurboJET which travels between the Hong Kong International Airport and Macau. This differs from the above Macau-Hong Kong route since travelers who arrive in Hong Kong by air do not have to go through Hong Kong immigration's passport control and can board a direct ferry to Macau through a special transfer terminal within the airport. On the return trip, travelers can directly reach the Hong Kong International Airport by ferry (a dedicated check-in desk for the service is available at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal) and arrive at the airport without going through Hong Kong immigration's passport control, though airline check-in has to be done within the airport prior to boarding a plane.

A new ferry terminal, which is adjacent to the Macau International Airport, is under construction and upon completion (probably in early 2009) some of the passenger traffic by sea will be diverted to the new facility. It is expected to act as a major hub for passenger transfer between the Hong Kong International Airport and the Macau International Airport.

Air

The Macau International Airport, located at Taipa, serves as the terminal for Macau's international air traffic. It was inaugurated on December 1995 and has since established a number of regulars flights between Macau and major cities in Northeast and Southeast Asia, for example Bangkok, Beijing, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, etc.

Passengers who would like to enter mainland China by land can use the "Two Customs, One Checkpoint" service (or the AIR-TO-LAND Flow Express Bus - Two Customs, One Checkpoint) provided by the Macau International Airport. Passengers can request the "Express Link" service at the check-in counter of their respective airlines. When arriving at the Macau International Airport, they can simply follow the "Express Link" signs and board the Air-to-Land transfer. Passengers do not have to go through Macau's immigration and customs checkpoint until they reach the border of mainland China.

Owing to its relatively low landing fees and the business opportunities brought by the booming gaming industry in Macau, the airport has attracted several Asia's low-cost carriers such as AirAsia, Viva Macau, Tiger Airways, etc. to establish regular flights between Macau and several major cities in Southeast Asia, and recently Sydney as well. As a result it has been gradually developing into a major hub for low-cost air travel within the region. Other traditional carriers, such as the local flag carrier Air Macau, the Taiwanese carriers EVA Air and TransAsia Airways, and even carriers which operate similar routes from Hong Kong, are facing potential challenges from these newcomers.

Roads and bridges

Macau has 321 kilometres of public roads, three bridges (viaducts) linking the Macau Peninsula and Taipa, and a tunnel through the Guia Hill linking the Horta e Costa area and the New Port Area (NAPE). The three bridges are (from east to west) the Friendship Bridge ("Ponte de Amizade"); the Macau-Taipa Bridge ("Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho"); and the Sai Van Bridge ("Ponte de Sai Van").

Unlike mainland China, where traffic drives on the right, traffic in Macau and Hong Kong drives on the left. Roads are generally narrow at the heart of the city and parked cars are always found on both sides of the road. Traffic congestion has been a major problem throughout the day owing to the lack of efficient mass transit system and a relatively high car to population ratio.

Ports

* Macau Container Port, located at the Inner Harbour area on the west side of the Macau peninsula.
* Kai Ho Port, located on the "Ilha de Coloane" (Coloane Island).

References

External links

* [http://www.cityguide.gov.mo/eng_main.asp City Guide of Macau]
* [http://www.gov.mo/egi/Portal/index.jsp Macau SAR Government Official Website]
* [http://www.macau-airport.com/en/index.php Macau International Airport Official Website]

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