Macao ’ s Portuguese heritage stretches back over 500 years . Jorge Álvares , Portuguese explorer , first landed on Chinese soil near Guangzhou in the Pearl River Delta . Attacked by the Ming Chinese navy , the Portuguese retreated , attempting to settle in other parts of the delta . They found success in Macao .

After some initial spats , the Portuguese eventually put down their guns and broached the Chinese as trading partners . They rented Macao as a trading post for an annual fee .

Despite their non-violent intentions , the Portuguese failed to establish trading relationships with the Chinese . As such , they turned to Japan . Exporting Chinese silk to Japan became a lucrative business , and Macao reached the peak of its prosperity as a major warehouse during the late 16th century .

Macao ’ s prosperity as a major port continued until the British seized Hong Kong in 1842 . Hong Kong ’ s deep waters made the region bettersuited

to the role of port-city . Macao remained valuable to the Portuguese , however , for tobacco processing and firecracker and incense production .

In 1999 , Portugal ceded Macao to China after 442 years of rule – concluding one of the earliest and longest-lasting relationships between East and West .

Double-digit growth Macao then opened its casino industry to foreign investors , kickstarting a new phase of economic growth . The local economy grew by double-digits from 2002 to 2014 , to make Macao one of the richest economies in the world per capita .

As a result of over 400 years of Portuguese and Chinese cohabitation , Macanese culture is completely unlike neighbouring areas . Among the traditional Chinese buildings , there are hyper-modern skyscrapers and old Portuguese colonial structures . The Historic Centre of Macao is a UNESCO World Heritage site ,

Left : A busy commercial street in Macao

encompassing over 20 historical locations

. of both Portuguese and Chinese origin . 15th century Chinese temples are grouped together with 16th century Portuguese Baroque churches .

Macanese food is certainly less well-known than that of its neighbour , Hong Kong . But among those that know , Macao has quite an esteemed reputation . Food travel legend Anthony Bourdain remarked that a pork chop bun ( a local delicacy ) he ate in Macao was “ possibly the most delicious thing ”. Quite the statement from a man who documented the cuisine of over 80 countries .

Macao is the definition of fusion cuisine . Portuguese egg tarts , almond cake and salt cod are as recurrent as minchi ( Macanese stir-fry ), stir-fry curry-crab and pork chop buns . Traditional European dishes are seasoned with turmeric , cinnamon and coconut milk .

Many Macanese dishes were reportedly created by the wives of Portuguese sailors , using local Chinese ingredients to replicate European flavours .

Since Portugal handed Macao back to China in 1999 , new infrastructure has been erected right across the region . Luxury hotels , casino-resorts and exhibition space now dominate Macao ’ s skyline – a new modern , urban development over an already complicated cultural blend .