It’s easy to forget that the tiny former Portuguese territory of Macau (or Macao) is actually a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. But with Cantonese as the main language and the Hong Kong dollar as the preferred currency, don’t overlook the Las Vegas of Asia as an exciting place to ring in an authentic Chinese New Year.
This month there will be dancing in the black-and-white tiled streets of historic Macau when it pulls out the stops to welcome The Year of the Monkey with lively parades, live music, fireworks, and special lighting displays. More than 1,300 local and international street performers and a dozen-plus floats will entertain spectators in Lunar New Year street parades.
From now until February 29, the city will also host “Valentine’s Day Fantasia – The Fairytale of Lights.” The historic Taipa Houses Museum area will be decorated in imaginative lights climaxing with a 3-D light show. The charming Taipa is adjacent to Cotai Central which offers plenty of five-star accommodations such as the Sheraton Grand Macao Cotai Central, the largest property in Macau and the largest Sheraton in the world.
A few of Cotai’s casino properties are lookalike versions of older Las Vegas sisters, including the Wynn, the chaotic Venetian and MGM. Cotai resorts, however, don’t compete with one another because they are all controlled by Vegas kingpin Sheldon Adelson (who is allegedly under federal investigation for violations). With VIP gamblers spending $1-5 million dollars each time they visit, Macau isn’t playing around. Not even during the Year of the Monkey.
