I think the people of Macau are so pitiful.
【The Life of Macanes: The Hardships Behind the Prosperity】
Many people have the impression that Macau is a tourist destination full of charm. There is a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, as well as the desirable bustling casino. However, when I walked into the city in person, I found a very different Macau from the outside world.
Macau covers an area of only 32.9 square kilometres and has a population density of about 20,000 people per square kilometre. This highly dense urban layout makes the streets appear particularly narrow. Pedestrians and vehicles are crowded on these narrow streets, often with the need to carefully avoid. Compared to other cities, Macau is really insignificant, as if it were a small town. Such urban planning has a long history, but it is somewhat overwhelmed by the wave of modernization.
In Macau, public transport mainly relies on buses and taxis. Buses are often crowded during rush hour, despite their extensive coverage. The streets are narrow, and vehicles often need to drive slowly, making travel less efficient. Walking on the street, what I feel is not the bustle, but the helplessness of traffic and the irritability of congestion. One local resident told me that sometimes he would rather walk than take the bus because it was too crowded.
In this city, the price level is even more staggering. A bottle of ordinary purified water costs 15 Hong Kong dollars, a fast food costs 50 Hong Kong dollars, and the bus fare is as high as 6 yuan. These figures not only reflect the level of consumption in Macau, but also put the local residents under tremendous economic pressure in their lives. Despite the rapid economic development, soaring prices have made life even more difficult. A woman who works in a restaurant told me that her monthly salary is just over HK$10,000, but the cost of living is prohibitively high.
Macau is rich in cultural diversity, with a blend of Chinese and Western elements. However, behind this multiculturalism, the lives of Macanese people are often misunderstood. Many people think of Macau as a wealthy place, but in reality, many residents don't live as glamorous as they seem. A retired old gentleman said with emotion that although Macau has a developed economy, the lives of ordinary people have not improved much. The contrast between the hardships of life and the blending of cultures makes people think about the real life of Macau people.
Tourism is the backbone of Macau's economy, and casinos attract a large number of tourists. However, this economic model is not without its pitfalls. While tourism brings in good revenues, it also marginalizes local residents in economic development. Their lives and work are often overshadowed by the boom in tourism, and the real benefits are difficult to share. A young man who works in a hotel told me that he has to deal with a large number of tourists every day, but his salary has not improved much.
Overall, Macau is a city that does have a unique charm, but behind this prosperity, there are hidden hardships in the lives of ordinary residents. They face traffic congestion and high prices, which are often overshadowed by a boom in tourism. I hope that through this article, more people can understand the real living conditions of Macao people, and think about how to make the city's development more beneficial to ordinary people. Everyone is welcome to share your views and experiences about Macao in the comment section.
