Macao
Chinese and Portuguese are the official languages of Macao.
Cantonese is spoken by most of its population. English is
generally used on many occasions.
Other GBA cities
Mandarin is the official language of China, while Cantonese is also a common language in the region. Most hotels in the country have staff fluent in other languages, but English may only be reliably spoken by individuals working in tourist facilities. It’s therefore recommended to have addresses or instructions written down in Chinese to show to taxi drivers.
That being said, major streets in China have signposts in pinyin, which is the Romanisation system for Chinese characters. This makes navigation easier, especially when using a map. Moreover, many Chinese people, particularly the younger generation, have studied English and welcome the opportunity to practise it with foreigners. Don’t hesitate to ask people in the street for directions. You’ll often be met with a friendly and heroic effort to help.
Visas to the Mainland
Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter the Mainland. Visas
should be obtained from the Embassy or Consulate General of the
People’s Republic of China in the applicant’s country before
departing to the Mainland. A standard China tourist visa is good
for sightseeing and visiting friends and relatives, and can be
obtained for a single entry, double entries or multiple entries.
Other visas such as business visas or working visas are also
available. For details, please contact your nearest
Chinese embassy or consulate.
144-hour Convenient Visa to Guangdong Province
Foreign nationals in Hong Kong can visit China’s Guangdong
province for a maximum of 144 hours (six days) via entry ports in
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan,
Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou and Shantou* using the 144-hour
Convenient Visa.
To be eligible for the 144-hour Convenient Visa, visitors:
1. Must join a tour organised by a registered Hong Kong travel
agent.
2. Must travel in a group consisting of a minimum of two persons
and a maximum of 40 persons.
3. Can have a choice of ports of entry or exit in Guangdong
province.
4. Must enter and leave the areas together in their group via the
ports of entry stated above.
*Travellers must enter and exit via the same port.
At the ports of entry and exit in Guangdong province, immigration
officers will examine passports and the list of names in the
group. Group members will not need to fill in any immigration
cards for passport stamping.
The above policy is applicable to ordinary passport holders of
nations with diplomatic relations with China, and subject to
change without prior notice.
You may contact your hotel concierge or tour operator in Hong Kong
to find out about the application procedure and related service
charges.
Visas to Macao
Visitors to Macao Special Administrative Region are required to
possess a valid passport and entry permit or visa for entry.
Nationals of 76 countries and regions are exempted in accordance
with the written instruction of the chief executive of Macao.
Please see further details
here.
Visitors entering the Mainland must follow the regulations of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. For details, please check here.
Macao
Ferry: Around 60 minutes via high-speed ferry from Hong Kong Island or Kowloon
Bus: Around 45 minutes via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge shuttle bus
Coach: Around two hours from locations across Hong Kong
Dongguan
Train: Around 45 minutes via high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
Coach: Around three hours from locations across Hong Kong
Guangzhou
Train: 60 minutes via high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
Coach: Around three hours from locations across Hong Kong
Shenzhen
MTR: Around seven to 12 minutes via the East Rail Line from Sheung Shui Station
Train: Around 14 to 19 minutes via high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
Coach: Varies based on point of departure
Zhuhai
Bus: Around 40 minutes via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge shuttle bus
Coach: Around 75 minutes from locations across Hong Kong (via Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge)
Ferry: Around 70 minutes via high-speed ferry from Hong Kong Island or Kowloon
Foshan
Train: Around 90 minutes via high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
Coach: Around three hours from locations across Hong Kong
Huizhou
Train: Around 70 minutes via high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
Coach: Around 2.5 to three hours from locations across Hong Kong
Zhongshan
Ferry: Around 90 minutes via high-speed ferry from Hong Kong Island or Kowloon
Coach: Around three hours from locations across Hong Kong
Jiangmen
Train: Around two hours via high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
Coach: Around four hours from locations across Hong Kong
Zhaoqing
Train: Around 1.5 to two hours via high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
Coach: Around four hours from locations across Hong Kong
Prepare for your trip by checking the Weather Website for GBA before you depart.
Macao
The currency in Macao is MOP. The banknotes available are MOP 10,
MOP 20, MOP 50, MOP 100, MOP 500 and MOP 1,000. Coins available
are MOP 0.1, MOP 0.2, MOP 0.5, MOP 1, MOP 2, MOP 5 and MOP 10.
Other GBA cities
The currency in China is the Renminbi (RMB), the primary unit of which is the yuan. The smaller units are the jiao. 1 yuan is equivalent to 10 jiao. The banknotes in everyday circulation are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan; and 1 and 5 jiao. Coins available are 1 yuan; and 1 and 5 jiao.
Electronic Payment
The use of electronic payment is widely used within the Greater Bay Area. Major e-wallet service providers, such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, allow overseas visitors to link their credit cards to the e-wallet for payment settlement.
Please contact the service providers for the most updated information.
The standard electrical voltage in all GBA cities is 220 volts AC, 50Hz, so you will need an adaptor for 100-volt appliances.
The whole of China is set at GMT/UTC plus eight hours. The country does not observe daylight saving time.