Ciao, Macao

The ancient maritime trade destination today mixes modern marvels with historical wonders produced by its past as a Portuguese colony. Mike Peters explores the island.

Alatecomer to the Maritime Silk Road's history and lore, Macao made up for lost time quickly because of the 16th-century arrival of the Portuguese.

A mighty sea power that produced such navigators as Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan, Portugal took immediate advantage of the geographical position of the Macao-Manila route as a major gateway between China, Japan, India and the West.