Shop duty-free in Macau, where you can score a range of luxury goods, from gold, jewelry, watches, cameras, electronics and wines. You can either shop with Hong Kong dollars (HKD) or Macanese patacas (MOP), and most places will take major international cards; ATMs are plentiful and accept most international cards. The pataca's exchange value is virtually identical to that of the HKD and RMB. Be careful of fakes and make sure you get receipts and certificates of quality for big-ticket items, as rip-offs are not unheard of (you can look for "certified shops," which have been recognized by the city for complaint-free service).

 

In the north of the Macau Peninsula, the pedestrian-only Red Market features some fine examples of art deco architecture (much of painted red, hence the name) and some excellent shopping, as does the Avenida de Horta e Costa as it heads southeast from the Red Market into the "Three Lamps" district. To the south, Senado Square sits in the midst of a number of small shops, many of which specialize in fashion, designer brands, cosmetics and perfumes. The area around the famous Sao Paulo Church is good for antique furniture, coins, pottery and ceramics. A number of large modern malls complement the shops and boutiques in the old city New Yaohan and the Macao Landmark are among the most popular. Finally, what would a gambling town be without pawnshops? Whether you're looking for a way to buy a few more chips for another night at the casinos or you're looking to benefit from some anonymous punter's poor luck, Macau pawnshops are worth a peek, if only to remind you to take it easy at the roulette wheel.