The 'Grand Emperor' hotel in Macau announced that it had removed real gold bars that decorated the floor of its main entrance hall and sold them for approximately $13 million US dollars, taking advantage of the significant rise in gold prices. The hotel, which opened in 2006 in the semi-autonomous Chinese casino city, became famous for its 'Golden Corridor,' a lavish passage whose floor was adorned with dozens of pure gold bars, each weighing one kilogram. The hotel's parent company stated in a press release that the purpose of this design was to 'create a magnificent and dazzling atmosphere.' However, with the soaring price of gold, the company saw an opportunity to turn the precious metal into cash as a 'good investment opportunity.' 'Emperor Entertainment Hotel Limited' noted that the decision to remove the bars from the corridor and sell them is linked to the renovation of the hotel's facilities. In October 2025, the Grand Emperor hotel ceased its gambling operations after Macau tightened its laws regarding casino operations. The group stated in its press release two days ago that 'as the area in question is planned to undergo renovation and development, the precious metals that were originally part of the hotel's interior design are no longer suitable for its future character.' The company added that selling 'a number of gold bars weighing a total of 79 kilograms' for $12.8 million US dollars 'will strengthen the group's financial position and enable it to invest if suitable opportunities arise.'
