Like Hong Kong, Macau is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. The South China Sea territory attracts a mass of annual tourists with a shiny collection of Vegas-style resorts. Beyond the casino hotels in Macau however, there is superb heritage to discover.

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With a surface area of 23 km², Macau is more than manageable for pedestrians. Hotels in Macau are plentiful, luxurious and definitely rank as some of the best in Asia. Aside from Cantonese, expect to hear the occasional “obrigado” in this former colony of Portugal.

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The façade and staircase of the Cathedral of St. Paul is the most famous landmark in the city. Built in the late 16th century and once the largest Catholic church in Asia, St. Paul was destroyed by fire in 1835. The iconic ruins are now part of Macau’s UNESCO World Heritage inscription.

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Two dozen other buildings in the city’s historic center are also listed by UNESCO. A veritable fusion of Portuguese and Chinese culture, the colonial architecture that remains in Macau is the region’s cultural highlight. The best way to cover the UNESCO World Heritage district in one day is to walk the Macau Heritage Circuit.

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Macau has a host of terrific museums to discover as well. Don’t miss the “Macau Museum Pass”, which provides substantial discounts to most of the city’s cultural institutions. The excellent Macau Museum, in addition to others, is located in the urbanized part of the special region. You can find some museums on Taipa however – the island home of Macau International Airport and the University of Macau.

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Both Taipa and Coloane, two islands once separated by sea but presently joined by the Cotai Strip, are worth a visit. Once a rural area, Taipa is now being urbanized as an alternative settlement to peninsular Macau. Besides casinos and shopping malls, Taipa hosts two museums and hills perfect for cycling and hiking.

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Coloane has largely been spared from vast development for now and represents a nice break from bustling Macau. Indeed, parts of Coloane still evoke the era Portuguese rule, with pastel houses, narrow streets and tiny squares. Moreover, the island has a couple of Macau’s best beaches. Coloane is a great place for food lovers as well, with some of the most famous restaurants in the entire special region

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