Yangon is the major city in Myanmar and till 2006 it was the capital city, until the seat of government was moved to Nay Pyi Taw. However, Yangon remains the most important commercial city and most visitors will begin and end their journey in Yangon. Yangon had itself only been the capital since 1885, when the British conquered northern Myanmar and moved the seat of government from Mandalay. However, as they had long held the city as a key trading post, Yangon’s has a wonderful array of colonial-era buildings – many of which are now crumbling, hidden down side streets. But the biggest concentration is on the riverfront Strand Road, around the bottom of Pansodan Street and Sule Pagoda Road. Yangon is a place where modernity meets tradition – the energy in Yangon is palpable. It is a bustling and dynamic city undergoing rapid development. Busy streets are lined with food vendors at all times of day, and tasting different flavors of the street food will the be a highlight of any trip to Yangon. The iconic attraction of the city is the Shwedagon Pagoda, a 98-metre-high stupa whose golden glow can be seen throughout the city. There are many other stunning buildings as well, in fact, Yangon has more colonial architecture than any other city in South East Asia. Yangon has a fascinating history, and walking around the downtown area is a good place to get a crash course.
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