Macau overview

Macau is city of dual personalities. Modern development has seen the city style itself as the Chinese equivalent of Las Vegas, a stark contrast to the Portuguese colonial past of monasteries, food stalls and battlements. Although modernisation has seen the city mirror the complexion of Hong Kong and Shanghai, the lure for big spenders is not commerce but gambling, for the main reason that mainland China prohibits the practice. This results in a duplicitous city where mega-casinos and shopping malls sit alongside a distinctly Mediterranean village atmosphere. Most often experienced as a day-trip from neighbouring Hong Kong, the more laid-back Macau is still a unique mix of Portuguese and Chinese culture, most notably world-famous cuisine. For every kitsch casino there is a colourful colonial building hidden somewhere nearby, while hilled streets of Banyan trees sit alongside super-malls, making Macau an attractive option for every type of traveller.