Once a sleepy fishing village, today's Macau entices commerce and tourism like never before, taking a tradition of gambling to new extremes. Being hailed as the “Las Vegas of the Orient”, Macau’s new mega-casinos are opening at an unprecedented rate. Yet it offers other charms as well, such as historic sights, diversely delicious cuisine, shopping, and a wealth of outdoor activities.

Macau clearly presents two different faces. There is the old, quaint and sometimes crumbling architecture of the past including ancient Buddhist temples, Portuguese fortresses, Chinese shop-houses and Catholic churches. Then there’s the booming casino industry with all the glitz of Las Vegas and glamour of Monte Carlo. Famous for its non-stop nightlife, Macau is a city that never sleeps, with plenty of pubs, discos, shops, restaurants and of course, casinos, open all night long.

Just 60 kilometres from Hong Kong, Macau was both the first and the last European colony in China. The impact of the colonisation is evident in its varied architecture, even more so than in Hong Kong. Strolling through the streets of the old city can at time appear reminiscent of Europe.

Macau preserves many historical sites within the city. The Historic Centre of Macau, which includes some twenty-five important monuments and public squares, is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Although Macau’s citizens are mostly Chinese, there is still a small community of Portuguese. The mixing of Chinese and Portuguese cultures and religions for more than four centuries has left Macau with a unique collection of festivals, holidays, and events.