Gay Guide China - Macau

The minimum age for homosexual and heterosexual contacts is 14 years. However, anal sexual intercourse with minors is punished more severely - regardless of whether it is of heterosexual or homosexual nature. Homosexuality is legal in Macao, there is no law prohibiting homosexual sex. There is protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation in industrial law. The legal recognition of homosexual partnerships is not yet planned in Macao. Macao is a special administrative zone of the People's Republic of China about 50 kilometres west of Hong Kong. Until 1999 it was a Portuguese colony. Macao is rich in colonial sights. The main sources of income are gambling that is legal here and related tourism from Hong Kong and mainland China, which are the reasons why Macao is called Monte Carlo of the East or Las Vegas of the East. The area of the present special administrative zone originally consisted of three islands. The islands Taipa and Coloane are interconnected by land fills as is Macao with the mainland. There is a rather small gay scene in Macao. Many prefer to go to Hong Kong. The ferry between Macao and Hong Kong takes about one hour and runs between 07:00 and 24:00. A strong gambling boom led to the construction of many more casinos in Macao. The Grand Lisboa is probably the most impressive to look at: the large golden building clearly dominates the skyline of Macao.