Macau is a metropolis best known for its world-class casinos and offshore banking operations, but the city is also a place of remarkable contrasts. The historic town center, designated a World Heritage Site by the UN, coexists with the ultramodern casinos and clubs along the beach. The city is a prime vacation spot for wealthy citizens of several countries, as it sits at the crossroads of East and South Asia. However, Macau also incorporated many elements of European culture during the 400-plus years of Portuguese rule. Though the region was not returned to China until 1999, people here have always clung tightly to their Cantonese roots. The street signs in Macau today may be bilingual, but Cantonese is the predominant first language and virtually no one speaks Portuguese.
