Macau

The historical part of Taipa is best preserved in this village in the south of the district. An intricate warren of alleys holds traditional Chinese shops and some excellent restaurants, while the broader main roads are punctuated by colonial villas, churches and temples. Rua da Cunha, the main pedestrian drag, is lined with vendors hawking free samples of Macanese almond cookies and beef jerky, and tiny cafes selling egg tarts and serradura pudding.

In the MGM Cotai's atrium, the walls are hung with LED screens showing razor-sharp images of landscapes from all over the world. These are interspersed with vertical gardens where purportedly 2000 plant species grow, including extinct 19th-century botanicals revived from seed banks. Topping it off is a glass canopy larger than a football field. It's quite an experience to traverse this space – lofty and futuristic, but with the grandeur and transience of an old train station.