Melaka was conferred the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 7 July 2008. On a full day tour of Melaka, you travel back through more than 600 years of history. The city was formerly under colonial rule by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. This heritage trail begins with a visit to St. Peter’s Church (1710), the oldest Christian church still in use in Malaysia today. Next, drive past the largest 17th century Chinese cemetery outside of China, located at Bukit China. Then, stop to admire two iconic structures, the landmark gateway “Porta de Santiago” and the ruins of St. Paul’s Church. St Paul’s Church lies buried between the 17th-century Dutch tombstones. Porta de Santiago was a fortress built by the Portuguese in 1511 and is also known as “A Famosa. The final stop is to explore Stadyhus (1641 –1660), also known as the “Red Square” due to the salmon pink colour of the building. It was once a Dutch Administration centre which today houses the Malacca Museum and some government offices. Slow down and enjoy a 40-minute boat ride on the Malacca River. This journey passes a number of heritage buildings situated along the river and traditional fishing villages. After the cruise, stroll to Cheng Hoon Teng, an ancient Chinese Temple, before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, wander along Malacca’s antique row known as Jonker Street. All sorts of antiques are on display, at a reasonable price here, along with art galleries, souvenir shops, dried food shops, and more.