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Macau

By Eddie Moy

Just an hour ferry ride from Hong Kong, at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta, lies another autonomous region of China. Portuguese and Chinese influences intermingle here. It is a seaside enclave that is the gambling capital of the world.

The first and last European colony in Asia. The Monte Carlo of the Orient. The Vegas of Asia.

Welcome to Macau.

The Macau emblem with a lotus flower, bridge and sea water under 5 stars.

taipa village

Historical, traditional, and cultural. Go beyond the glitz and glamour of the casinos and enter the narrow streets of authentic Macau where east meets west.

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

Rua do cunha (官也街)

Portugese for Cunha Street. Named after a Portuguese Navy captain, but better known by its apt nickname of "Food Street." Here, you'll find Portuguese fare side-by-side with Chinese jerky stalls and cafes selling egg tarts.

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

Pak Tai Temple (北帝廟) - 1844

Our Lady of Carmel Church (嘉模聖母堂) - 1885

Macau

Macau

The Ruins of St. Paul

Postcard perfect, Macau's most famous landmark, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

68 stone steps leads to the granite facade of this 17th century Portuguese church. At its pinnacle, it was deemed the "Vatican of the Far East."

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

senado square (議事亭前地)

One would be forgiven to believe they were in Portugal here. With the heavily European influenced and pastel-colored buildings, along with the traditional Portuguese style pavement under your feet, the town square is visually striking. Here, you'll find a representative Macanese experience walking through the square and its side streets . As part of the Historic Centre of Macau, Senado Square is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lanterns and decorations adorn the square for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

Cotai (路氹城)

The game of choice here is Baccarat. Macau, being the only place in China where gambling is legally allowed, has surpassed Vegas' gambling revenue by nearly five-fold.

Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge

Cotai joins the two islands of Taipa and Coloane together and was formed via a land-reclamation project. Due to the density and shortage of existing landmass, Cotai was created to provide an area dedicated for the development of gambling and entertainment. Here, the Cotai Strip is lined with extravagant hotels and numerous casinos.

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

Macau

© 2026 Eddie Moy

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