Hong Kong's nearest neighbour, the cultural melting pot of Macau, is a stopover within a stopover. Less than an hour away by fast ferry, it provides a staggering contrast in cultural and scenic charms to the throb of Hong Kong.
The port city of Macau's rich heritage as a trading post is arguably more romantic and engaging than its bigger brother's. Macau, at the mouth of the Pearl River, was initially part of the Ancient Silk Road with ships loading here with silk bound for Rome.
In 1513, Portuguese merchant-explorers set in motion an indelible legacy, settling on Macau as their great trading nexus. Today, multicultural Macau which, like Hong Kong, is one of China's Special Administrative Regions, enthrals visitors with a unique East meets West mix of influences, chiefly melded by its distinctive Portuguese stripes.
The local cuisine is particularly striking. When the Portuguese first arrived in Asia, they brought foodstuffs and cooking ideas they had garnered from all around the world. Over the centuries they have been combined and adapted by local Chinese into a truly international cuisine which is called Macanese.
What I particularly love about Macau is its preservation and celebration of diverse architecture. The Historic Centre of Macau has been recognised as a World Heritage site and lustily showcases the wealth of architectural styles that have been threaded into Macau's urban fabric, its streetscape and piazzas, over the past 500 years.