a special administrative region of China, in the south of the country, across the estuary of the Zhu Jiang from Hong Kong: chief centre of European trade with China in the 18th century; attained partial autonomy in 1976; formerly (until 1999) a Portuguese overseas province under a long-term lease from China, as with Hong Kong (a UK territory until 1997); transit trade with rest of China; tourism and financial services. It retains its own currency, the pataca. Pop: 583 003 (2013 est). Area: 16 sq km (6 sq miles)

administrative zone of China, consisting of a peninsula & two small adjacent islands at the mouth of the Zhu River, west of Hong Kong: formerly under Portuguese administration: 6.6 sq mi (17 sq km); pop. 339,000

its capital, a seaport coextensive with the peninsula