Shopping: Silk and souvenirs

The cobblestone lane leading up to St. Paul's is lined with antique shops.

Macau is fast becoming a world-class shopping destination for goods from some of the world's best-known brands. The city is a free port, which means imported goods are not subject to prohibitive taxes, so luxury items are cheaper here than in most other cities in the region, and new upscale boutiques and shops are popping up all over town, carrying brands like Emporio Armani, Hermes, Burberry, Luis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Dior, Ferragamo, Dunhill, Cartier, Bally, and Versace.

But if you consider shopping an adventure and your imagination is richer than your credit card limit, take a trip through the older section of the city to discover some unusual and attractive items at prices that will help you forget unappealing exchange rates.

One advantage to being a small city is that nothing is very far away, and in Macau you'll find street vendors and designer boutiques within a stone's throw from each other. The narrow cobblestone lane leading up to St. Paul's is lined with shops bursting at the seams with Chinese antiques and expert reproductions, works of art in lacquer, wood, porcelain and bronze and plenty of delightful handcrafted souvenirs that easily fit into your luggage.

One-of-a-kind curios and memorabilia are yours for the finding – and the bargaining – in the flea market and tintins around Rua das Estalagens and Rua de Tercena. Porcelains, bronze statues, ornaments of all kinds, antique posters, and jade jewelry are just some of the treasures to be found, all at negotiable prices. Go for the gold, and pearls and other fine jewelry and watches in the shops on San Ma Lo near Largo do Senado. Upscale brand name boutiques dot the landscape, but you'll find more of them in one place in Mandarin Oriental's arcade.

Hop across the bay to quiet, picturesque Taipa Village on Sundays when it comes to life with the Islands Fair, and you may be serenaded by a Cantonese opera performance in the temple square. While you browse among the stalls piled high with a hodgepodge of bric-a-brac, you can sample the local cuisine either from the outdoor vendors or in any of the many restaurants the village is famous for.