Hong Kong to Bangkok

c. 1900 - Chinese children found hidden in a sailing junk to be sold on as slaves. Although officially outlawed in 1595, the sale of Chinese people into slavery continued for many years.

A map showing the position of Macau in global trade routes, 1580-1640. Green represents Portugal and its trading posts, gold represents Spanish trade routes.

A depiction of early 16th century Portuguese sailing ships used for exploration from the Project Gutenberg archives.

Vasco da Gama, one of Portugal's most famous explorers during the "Age of Discovery" in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, and commanded the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India.

An illustration of a range of 16th century Portuguese sailing vessels, used for defence, trade and the transport of people and slaves. The Portuguese Navy was heavily involved in 16th century exploration.

A replica of a 16th century Portuguese trade ship in a museum in Malacca. Malacca and Goa were key stopping off points on the trade route between Macau and Lisbon.

A 16th century contemporary painting of Portuguese merchant ships. This is believed to be the arrival in Italy of ships from Lisbon on their long journey eastwards.

A Dutch engraving of a Portuguese slave ship - these ships were used for both trade and also in battle and defence of larger fleets.

Namban (southern Japanese) 16th century art depicting Portuguese trade ships. Macau was a central hub to manage lucrative trade of silk and silver between China and Japan.

1785 - A map of Macau produced by Captain James Cook and William Bligh, as part of the Royal British Pacific Ocean voyages.

The first slave market to be built in Europe was in the southern Portuguese town of Lagos. Slaves here were traded from Africa and Asia, including Chinese slaves sent via Macau.

1893 - Japanese women select silk for new kimonos, with Chinese silk most prized and lucratively traded at a high mark up by Portuguese merchants through Macau.

Chinese silk dries after dying in Wuzhen, China. Chinese silk was coveted across the world throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, and proved especially desirable in Japan.

A dramatic view of the St. Paul's Cathedral façade at night. The façade is one of the most iconic views in Macau and a reminder of the region's colonial past.

The Statue of Guan Yin, a blend between the traditional images of the bodhisattva Guan Yin and Holy Mary, watches over Macau, a symbol of its joint Christian and Buddhist past.

Central Macau still houses a wide range of colonial buildings and architecture, which are well preserved and reflect the prosperity of its trading past.

Much of Macau's colonial architecture remains, as a visible reminder of its wealth and success through trade as a Portuguese Colony between 1557 and 1999.

Government House in Macau. Now home to the Chinese Government of Macau, it once housed the colony's many Portuguese Governors and their families.

The A-Ma Temple in Macau, built in 1488 and dedicated to the goddess of the sea and seafarers, and the source of the Portuguese name "Macau".

1902 - The ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, Macau. The remainder of the cathedral had been destroyed by fire more than 60 years earlier.

A 17th century map of Asia, published by Petrus Kaerius, Amsterdam, 1614. This is an excellent example of how wide a global view European explorers had at this time.

The flag of the Portuguese Government of Macau, used between 1976 and the return of the colony to the Chinese on 19th December, 1999.

The ruins of St Paul's Cathedral are one of the most famous and iconic landmarks in Macau. Built in 1602 by Jesuit priests, it represents the colonial importance of Christianity.

Penha Hill in Macau was home to the wealthiest merchants during Macau's time as a colony, as reflected by the grand and beautiful large houses still seen today.

1854 - An engraving of the façade of St. Paul's Cathedral in Macau. The cathedral was destroyed by fire caused by a typhoon in 1835, with only it's front façade remaining.

1840 - A watercolour depicting a Macau street scene. It was at this point in time that Macau began to feel the trading threat from the deep water harbour of Hong Kong.

Tourists throng through the centre of Macau, which receives over 25 million tourists per year, fifty times the population of the region.

The lights of the Hotel Lisboa shine brightly against further building work and apartment blocks - a reminder of the many stages of development Macau has gone through.

A mixture of old and new: the cannon of a colonial fort points out over one of Macau's modern tourist casinos, the centre of Macau's tourist industry and economy.

The Macau Grand Prix, a road race style event like the Monaco Grand Prix, is one of the most popular tourist events of the year with Formula 3, motorcycle and touring car racing drawing huge crowds.

A night view of the Macau Tower, a 338 metre high communication tower which also features the world's second highest commercial bungee jump.

Greyhound racing in the Macau Canidrome is another popular activity for betting and gambling. The Macau Canidrome is the only greyhound racing stadium in Asia.

A detail from the elaborate decoration inside the Wynn Macau Casino - a golden Tree of Life sculpture depicting the animals of the Chinese zodiac.

The dazzling lights of the Casino Lisboa in Macau. The 33 casinos across the area generate more annual revenue than the Las Vegas Strip.

The Venetian Macau, the largest casino in the region and the fifth largest building in the world by area. It is at the heart of the Cotai Strip, the centre of gambling in Macau.

The intricately painted ceiling of the Venetian Macau, an elaborately themed casino and hotel and the fifth largest building by area in Asia.

The Casino Lisboa, one of the earliest casinos in Macau. There are now 33 casinos in the region and they bring in a greater income every year than those on the Las Vegas Strip.

A roulette table inside the Venetian Macau. The gaming, tourism and hospitality industry is estimated to contribute more than 50% of Macau's GDP.

The San Luca Canal complex inside the enormous Venetian Macau complex. Visitors can take gondola rides around the hotel, the largest single structure building in Asia by floor area.