Yangon 仰光

Originally a Mon fishing village which gained prominence in the 14th century, the capital of city today still retains much of it's colonial heritage. Despite development, there are still many old historical buildings from British times to be found along many of the tree lined streets and avenues.

Walk the streets of Old Yangon to see leafy lanes and byways filled with enormous timber mansions, decorated in unique Myanmar style,where British captains of industry once lived. See century-old buildings with magnificent architecture, reminders of Yangon's past. The number of colonial buildings still standing in downtown Yangon is nothing short of spectacular. Myanmar's isolation from the rest of the world during the years after independence resulted in a unique preservation of many of its old buildings. It is heartening to see that at last, many of them are restored to their former beauty. Yangon's colonial streets are a showcase of the best, or most ostentatious, of colonial architecture - an exuberant display of wealth and designer dexterity. The influence of Victorian and Edwardian architectural details soon made a deep impression on the local and Indian craftsmen who embraced the styles wholeheartedly. Buildings developed an amazing hybird style that resulted in an array of curlicue trims and turrets along with cupolas and pergolas that adorn so many of the early buildings. Carved wood trims were also popular, all adding together to form an extraordinary architectural style unique to Myanmar. Yangon is perhaps the last authentic example of an Asian tropical city still featuring its former colonial origins, huge parks, shady trees and lakes and its religious monuments. Of those monuments, the most legendary, graceful and majestic of all, is the Shwedagon Pagoda built around 2,500 years old

Shwedagon Pagoda 大金塔
The main attraction of highlights in Yangon is the world famous Shwedagan Pagoda, This is one of the famous landmark in Yangon city, the pagoda itself is 326 feets in height, studded with 8688 sold god plates, thousands of diamonds and precious colorful jewels are decorated on top of the Bud. It is said to be believed that the pagoda was built about 2,500 years ago, it's one of the ancient pagoda in Myanmar. This was according to the legend of two merchants who went to India and met the Buddha. The Buddha gave them eight sacred hairs from his head, when they arrived back from India, the king Okkapala greeted them and held a great festival in honor of the sacred relics. Visitors whoever stroll around the golden shrine on the platform, feels the sacred peaceful atmosphere of quietness, is so wonderful that you will never forgot.

Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda 巧塔吉臥佛寺

A colossal reclining pagoda nearly as large as the one in Bago. The original image was built in 1907. It was damaged due to exposure to climate over the years. In 1957, renovated and laying the whole body and then, drawing by a painter from China. This huge 72 meters Reclining Buddha has large feet and like person high. From reclining 59 lives and 21 lives in animals, 28 lives in spirit. It shows the lives of Buddha. It is circling in three lives.

National Museum
Its' exhibits include the Lion Throne of the last Burmese King - Thibaw Min; the Mandalay Regalia, a collection of gem-studded swords, jewelry, bowls; and many other cultural exhibits.

Nanthida Jetty
Where you can watch the busy life on the Yangon river.

Scott Market
A sprawling 70 years old complex noted for its' variety of handicrafts and other items-an excellent place for a shopping spree.

Syriam (Thanlwin)

This is a short trip from Yangon, this was a busy trading port before Yangon took it's role.

Kyauktan Yele Pagoda
is a pagoda perched on a tiny island in the middle of the river. To reach it you catch one of the many launch ferries from the river bank.

This is of about 2 hours drive north of Yangon and this was the former royal capital. Bago is renowned for the 55-meter long reclining Buddha image, the Shwetalyaung, the beautiful golden Shwemawdaw Pagoda and many more religious monuments such as the old ordination hall built by King Dhammazedi. It has an interesting lively market and just 10 minutes out of town, one can see authentic rural life including water buffaloes yoked in front of a plough working in the paddy fields. Bago can be reached easily by road; the 80km journey from Yangon takes about 2 hours. It is situated on the road to the Golden Rock Pagoda and to Mawlamyine. Bago remains a quiet and easy going town with a lot more bicycles than cars. It is, however, constantly expaning.

Kyaiktiyo or Golden Rock

Located southeast of Yangon and about 160km from Yangon, Kyaiktiyo or "Golden Rock" Pagoda is one of them most famous and treasured landmarks of Myanmar. The small stupa, just 7.3 meteres high, sits at top the very edge of a cliff at the top of Mountain Kyaiktiyo. Legends say that the boulder maintains its precarious balane due to a precisely placed Gautam Buddha's hair inside the shrine. The rock seems to defy gravity, as it perfetually appears to be on the verge of rolling down the hill. The boulder and the cliff are two separate pieces and they barely touch each other. A glimpse of the "gravity defying" Golden Rock is believed to be enough of an inspiration for any person to turn to Buddhism. The atmosphere surrounding kyaiktiyo during the height of the pilgrimage season. Novemeber to March, is charged with magic and devotion, especially when the glinting boulder is bathed in the purple, sometimes misty light of dawn. Pilgrims chant, light candles and meditate all through the night.

Htaukkyan War Cemetery
It s located on the road to Bago, this is a beautifully kept cemetery, final resting place for thousands of Allied soldiers who died during WWII. There is also a monument with the names of many thousands of soldiers whose remains were never found.

Shwetalyaung Pagoda
It is a huge reclining Buddha, over 55 meters long and 16 meters high. It is said to be one of the largest and most lifelike of all reclining Buddha's.

Shwemawdaw Pagoda
Its' height of 114 meters completely dominates the town with over 1,000 years old.