Mandalay

During the colonial era, in spite of the British delegating Yangon as the new Burmese commercial and political hub, Mandalay became the centre of Burmese culture and Buddhist teachings and was regarded by the Burmese as a primary symbol of sovereignty and identity.

Before and during Burmese independence, which came in 1948, Mandalay had gone through a process of deterioration. With a high population of Chinese immigrating from Yunnan and Sichuan Province in the 1980s, the city began rebuilding and has become a major trade centre for Lower Burma, Upper Burma, China and India.

Featuring various historical buildings, temples, and pagodas, as well as Mandalay Palace and Hill, Mandalay offers excursions outside the city on a Myanmar vacation including the monastery and pagoda-covered hills of Sagaing, former ancient capitals of Amarapura and Ava, as well as the scenic trip upriver to Mingun, with its vast unfinished pagoda and world's largest bronze bell.

As the centre for silk and cotton weaving, marble carving, bronze and silver crafts and kalaga tapestries, Mandalay offers a vast array of Burmese culture.