Macau

Neighbouring Macau, less than an hour away by high-speed ferry, is a popular excursion from Hong Kong, offering good food, old-world charm and a multi-casino gambling industry that already outstrips Las Vegas. The former Portuguese enclave, which consists of a mainland promontory and two offshore islands, reverted to Chinese sovereignty in December 1999 after 400 years of colonial administration.

Like Hong Kong, Macau is a diverse city where Eastern and Western cultures co-exist in harmoniously. Apart from the obvious Chinese and Portuguese influences, you can find Dutch, Moorish, Spanish and British legacies in the older parts of town. The historic centre of Macau, which includes the oldest western architectural feature on Chinese soil, joined the World Heritage List in 2005.

Since the reversion of sovereignty, there has been much new development, spearheaded by a string of casinos and entertainment complexes that have transformed certain areas into dynamic new tourist attractions.

Find out more about colourful Macau here.