Macau was a Portuguese colony until 1999 when it was officially handed back to China, under similar circumstances to those of Hong Kong. The city feels like a unique fusion of Lisbon, China, and Las Vegas: Paved streets with South-European maritime depictions, lined with the usual array of Asian establishments, lead from old Portuguese heritage buildings to luxurious casino-hotels.
How to get to Macau from Hong Kong
There are several daily ferries doing this one-hour journey between the two special administrative regions.
Macau
Macau is much smaller than Hong Kong; one day is enough to experience this city. Its main attractions are its old Portuguese ruins (Walls of St. Paul’s Church and the nearby Monte Fort) as well as the old Portuguese-style plazas, like Senado Square. Take the daytime to stroll around these areas and spend the evening exploring the several casinos in the southern area. Gambling here comes at a high cost, as most games ask a minimum wage of 500 Macanese Patacas, which is roughly 60€… That felt a little too much an generally not being fond of games of pure luck, especially if I know the odds are not in my favor, I contented myself to watch the many Chinese who come here from Mainland China to test their luck.
Click on one of the pictures to open the Macau gallery :
