MACAU
Once romanticized as ‘The City in the Name of God,’ Macau is nowadays referred to Asia's "Sin City" due to its reputation for gambling, prostitution, and triad activity.
While Las Vegas grew out of a desert, Macau boasts a history spanning 450 years and a unique heritage that blends Cantonese and Portuguese cultures.
The liberalization of the local gaming industry in 2002 has brought enormous changes to the former Portuguese colony. On one hand, the people of Macau have become considerably wealthier, and employment has greatly increased. On the other, prices have skyrocketed, the urban and cultural landscape has been drastically transformed, and the people of Macau must contend with over 20 million visitors a year.
This is my snapshot of Macau, a city undergoing one of the greatest transformations in history—and the industry that sparked it.
