T H E   G O L D E N   C I T Y

Yangon is the capital city of Myanmar, with colonial charm, tree-lined avenues and stupendous pagodas shaped by its British colonial past and local Myanmar Buddhism. The country, formerly Burma, which gained independence in 1948, is situated next to Thailand and is home to a huge variety of ethnic groups.

Yangon is a rich mix of culture and spectacular architecture, a city framed in a time warp, with peeling buildings, stunning colonial masterpieces, vintage cars and crowded buses that elsewhere went out of service in the 1950s. Robed monks are ubiquitous – the men in brown and the women in pink, while people largely wear traditional garb and sarongs.

Simply take in the street sights, or indulge in some hard-bargain shopping, particularly for precious stones, pearls, silver, handicrafts and lacquerware. There’s some good art to be had, too. Ask the concierge to direct you to a specialist shop. Make a point of sampling the local food – try spicy Burmese, Shan and Indian.

For several hours of diversion, head to the large, closed-in Bogyoke Aung San Market (or Scott Market) for some great browsing for everything from silk cloth to local handicrafts and jewellery.

Of all the spectacular pagodas in Yangon, and indeed entire Myanmar, the definite must-see masterpiece is the gilded, elevated Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred pagoda for Myanmar Buddhists, near the Kandawgyi Lake at the centre of the city. Myanmar is often called the ‘Golden Land’ because of the shimmering golden spires of Shwedagon.

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F U N   F A C T S

VIEW Karaweik Palace on Kandawgyi Lake, a landmark. This three-storey modern structure is built in the shape of the mythical Karaweik bird and includes a ceremonial hall.

SEE Sule Pagoda at the heart of Yangon, a magnificent octagonal golden pagoda dating back 2000 years. It is said to enshrine a hair of Gautama Buddha.

DO Take a day trip from Yangon to Twante, a small town about 24km away known for its pottery and cotton-weaving. A boat trip toTwante takes about two hours.

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