Macau
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Macau is shedding its image as a sleepy colonial backwater and is poised to take East Asia by storm with its revamped, high-octane, post-colonial image. No longer will this historic city be viewed simply as a weekend refuge from the packed Hong Kong markets, nightclubs and restaurants. The all-new Macau Special Administrative Region, having relinquished ties to its former colonizers, is planning to usurp its Pearl River Delta neighbors as the most exciting environment for rest and recreation in the region.

Gambling

The casinos may lack the glamor of Las Vegas and the Euro-chic of Monte Carlo, but for fast-paced, bare-knuckled energy, you can not beat an evening in one of the territory’s thriving gambling houses. Try your hand at blackjack at the posh tables in the Mandarin Hotel or join the throngs hunched over the roulette wheel in the punters’ palace, the Casino Lisboa. You are unlikely to break the bank, but with some smart play, you might earn enough to cover the cost of a few drinks in the bar.

Festivals

For a change of pace, coincide your visit with one of the many colorful festivals that mark Macau’s packed schedule throughout the year. The Macanese love a good procession and they celebrate several religious anniversaries with parades, fireworks, and moonlit pageants during the busy spiritual season. Highlights include the parades accompanying the anniversary of Our Lord of Passos in February, Camoes Day in June, dedicated to the spirit of Portugal’s venerable national poet, and Our Lady of Fatima in May.

In addition to the religious festivals, Macau also revels in traditional events, ranging from the famed Chinese New Year to the lesser-known Ching Ming celebrations. And for a spectacle of the mighty dragon, experience the Dragon Boat Races or the Feast of the Drunken Dragon.

Sports

Macau is fast developing a reputation as an international venue for top-sporting events. The Macau Grand Prix roars into town in the third week of November, and tickets for this event sell fast. If you want to try a bit of motor racing yourself, zoom over to the Go-Karting tracks in Coloane, on reclaimed land near Coloane Park, where the engines rev up to break-neck speeds.

For a more urbane mode of travel, hire a bike and explore the beaches and quaint old streets of Taipa or Coloane. If you are in search of a peaceful retreat, try the Coloane Hiking Trail or a round of golf at the course that hosts the Macau Open. Joggers, pack your running shoes and vest because the Macau Marathon runs one of the most photogenic courses on the international long-distance circuit.

The Arts and Culture

Macau boasts a long and fascinating history, carefully documented in the many museums and galleries that reside in the quieter quarters of the city. Learn about the historic past at The Museum of Macau, sample great wines at the Wine Museum, and drift back in time at the Maritime Museum.

The Macau Cultural Centre is the number-one venue for live classical music, drama, film and dance in the territories, playing host to the annual Macau Arts Festival. In addition to the classics, many bars and hotels play live music, from regular Filipino house bands to heavier rock outfits blasting away in the bars in the new waterfront wining and dining area on Avenida Marginal da Baia Nova, near the Kun Iam Statue. The Jazz Club is particularly famous, one of the oldest jazz bars in the South China area, with its subtle fusion of traditional and modern sounds.

Apart from the gambling, the sports, the arts and the museums, consider a simple stroll around the streets of Macau. The atmosphere in this part of the Asia is unique, a curious blend of Europe and Asia that has yet to be knocked down, redeveloped and turned into a megalopolis, as has happened with neighboring Hong Kong. Covering a relatively small area, Macau contains enough nooks and crannies to keep the most inquisitive visitors fascinated for days. Macau might well be undergoing a process of change but the laid-back charm remains the same.