Macau’s mainland makeover


A view of a waterway dividing Macau and Hengqin. Beijing wants the Macau side to help develop Hengqin. — ©2025 The New York Times Company

MACAU, the world’s gambling capital, is becoming more intertwined with a Chinese neighbour – one person, train and building at a time.

A former Portuguese colony, Macau was reclaimed 25 years ago by China and declared a special administrative zone, part of the mainland but with some independence. Beijing agreed to mostly keep its hands off the 31sq km territory.

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