1 Staying ahead of the game in Macau

Macau has many unique and contrasting cultural characteristics and is vividly described as the cultural Janus (a Roman god with two faces). It was the first port open to the West over 400 years ago. Its people have been living in an environment blended with eastern and western cultures harmoniously for centuries. The Sino-Portuguese relationship has been good before and after the sovereignty handover of Macau back to China in 1999 (Cheng, 1999; So, 2005). During the 442-year history under Portuguese rule, Macau has thrived, grown, prospered, revived, survived, and above all, evolved into a Janus-like cultural space under imperialism, colonialism, ecumenicalism, communism and capitalism (Cheng, ibid.). Macau is strategically located at the Pearl River Delta of the southeastern coast of Mainland China. It can be reached within two hours ’ flying time by one billion people. With its long association with Portugal, Macau has been playing a vital role as the cultural and economic platform linking China and the Portuguese speaking countries with a total population of 200 million people (So, 2005). With this Janus characteristic, Macau is exemplary in exhibiting the harmonious co-existence of gaming and cultural attractions. In this respect, SJM develops a motto to preach its core value, i.e. “A Leader in Tourism, Entertainment and Cultural Development of Macau”. The mott