Philippines, Brunei, Bangladesh and Myanmar Four-Country Tour (14) Yangon

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, referred to as Myanmar. It is a country in Southeast Asia and a member of ASEAN. It borders the Andaman Sea to the southwest, India and Bangladesh to the northwest, China to the northeast, Thailand and Laos to the southeast, and its capital is Naypyitaw. Myanmar covers an area of approximately 678,500 square kilometers and has a coastline of 3,200 kilometers. The terrain is high in the north and low in the south. It is surrounded by mountains to the north, west and east. There are high mountainous areas in the north, the Naga Hills and the Arakan Mountains in the west, and the Shan Plateau in the east. Kaikabo Peak, close to the Chinese border, is 5,881 meters above sea level and is the highest peak in the country. Between the western mountains and the eastern plateau is the Irrawaddy alluvial plain, with low and flat terrain. Myanmar has a tropical monsoon climate and is located in the tropics and subtropics. The mountains and plateaus surrounding the east, north, and west of Myanmar are like barriers, blocking the cold air from the Asian continent from going south in winter. In the south, there is no barrier from the mountains, and the incoming air from the Indian Ocean The flow of warm and humid air can be unobstructed. Myanmar has a good ecological environment and few natural disasters.

Ten thousand years ago, the villages along the Irrawaddy River were already inhabited by humans. About the 4th century later, the number of Nanzhao and Piao people who moved south continued to increase, and the Piao Kingdom was gradually established. From 613 to 718, when the Vishnu Rama Dynasty ruled the Pyu Kingdom, it was very powerful, with 18 vassal states, 298 tribes and 9 towns. Its territory reaches Nanzhao in the north, Luzhenla in the east, Dongtianzhu in the west, and the sea in the south, occupying the entire Irrawaddy River Basin. Myanmar formed a unified country in 1044 and successively experienced the Bagan dynasty, Bago dynasty, Ava dynasty, Taungoo dynasty and Konbaung dynasty. From 1824 to 1885, Britain launched three Anglo-Burmese wars. In 1886, Burma was classified as a province of British India. Japan occupied Myanmar in May 1942, and Myanmar declared independence in January 1948, establishing the Union of Myanmar. The military government came to power in 1962 and was renamed the Socialist Republic of the Union of Myanmar in January 1974. In September 1988, it was renamed "The Republic of the Union of Myanmar".

Myanmar has a population of approximately 54.58 million people and a total of 135 ethnic groups. There are 135 ethnic groups in total, mainly including Bamar, Karen, Shan, Kachin, Chin, Kayah, Mon and Rakhine. Bamar accounts for about 65% of the total population, and some ethnic minorities in the north The areas (especially those bordering China) are in a state of autonomy and the Myanmar government is unable to control them, so foreign tourists are restricted. Mainland Chinese tourists are generally not allowed to enter Myanmar by land.

There are only two tourism themes in Myanmar, natural scenery and Buddhism. The natural scenery is mainly dominated by waterscapes. The Irrawaddy River and the Salween River are both major rivers in Southeast Asia. The coastline here retains its tropical style and the lakes are also excellent. More than 85% of the Burmese people in Myanmar believe in Theravada Buddhism (commonly known as Theravada Buddhism) and are very devout. Buddhist ideas have penetrated into every corner of social life. People regard pagodas and temples as holy places, the land of ten thousand Buddhas, mysterious and peaceful, and thousands of people. There are hundreds of temples, golden pagodas, and monks everywhere. Walking in such a country makes people feel as if they have entered a "transcendent" world.

Myanmar has superior natural conditions and rich resources, including minerals, forests, water conservancy and marine resources. However, Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in the world. Its industry is mainly agriculture, with more than 60% of the population engaged in agriculture. Its agricultural products include rice and wheat. , sugar cane, etc. Limited by the level of economic and technological development, Myanmar's industrial development lags behind and has not yet achieved large-scale development.

Yangon Yangon is located near the estuary of the Irrawaddy River, at the intersection of the Yangon River and the Pasento River, 37 kilometers away from the Andaman Sea. It is the largest port in Myanmar and one of the largest ports in Southeast Asia. It is the economic, cultural and transportation center of Myanmar, as well as the seat of some government agencies. The gentle Yangon Mountain extends into the city from the north, and the east, south and west of the city are plains.

Yangon was once a fishing village of the Mon ethnic group 2,500 years ago. It was called Dagon in the 11th century and is mainly famous for the Shwedagon Pagoda. In May 1755, Yong Jiya, the leader of the Burmese people, established the Gonbang Dynasty. He climbed to the Rui Daguang Pagoda (now the Yangon Grand Pagoda) to worship and pray for the elimination of military disasters and eternal peace. From then on, Dagon was renamed Yangon. Soon it became Myanmar's largest commercial port. In 1855, Myanmar became a British territory. The British moved the capital of Myanmar from Mandalay to Yangon. In 1942, Yangon was occupied by Japan. After Myanmar became independent in 1948, its capital was Yangon.

Yangon looks like a huge park, full of plants, flowers and grass. Yangon has countless gilded or white stone pagodas and temples, the most famous of which is the world-famous Shwedagon Pagoda. There are also monks with bare left shoulders and red cassocks floating barefoot on the street. In addition, Yangon has the dark red roofs of British buildings left over from the colonial era, the moss-covered roofs of Hindu temples inlaid with statues of various gods, and the square box roofs invented by modern civilization, which coexist harmoniously with pagodas, churches, and various temples. , forming a variety of pictures, together become the theme of Yangon tourism.

It was already afternoon when I arrived at Yangon Airport. I first took the airport bus to the river. My first impression of Yangon was that the air was much cleaner than that of Bangladesh.

Yangon Airport

Passing by the Shwedagon Pagoda

Saw a lot of colonial-era buildings

I got off near Sule Pagoda.

Central area map

Sule Pagoda is located in Bandura Square in the city center. It has always been the focus of Yangon and Myanmar politics. The entire streets of Yangon extend around it and it is a roundabout. The Sule Pagoda is named after the statue of Sularata, the patron saint of the holy mountain. The base of the tower is octagonal and contains Buddha relics. There are zodiac statues around the pagoda. When Myanmar Buddhists arrive at the temple, they will kneel down in front of the Buddha statue corresponding to their birthday and bathe the Buddha with water to show respect.

The obelisk in the center of Bandura Square in Bandura Park.

Yangon City HallYangon City Hall

Immanuel Baptist Church and AYA Bank

Yangon Region Court Yangon Region Court

Walking east, you can see the Botahtaung Pagoda, which houses the hair relics of Buddha. The pagoda was bombed during World War II, and the pagoda you see now was rebuilt after World War II.

I walked to the river just in time for sunset. The setting sun, flying seagulls and boats formed a beautiful picture.

Early the next morning, I continued walking around the river. I first came to Chinatown, where lanterns hung all over the streets and the smell of incense was strong.

Kheng Hock Keong Temple was built in the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1861). It was built with funds raised by Fujian immigrants in Yangon and the Chinese shipping company. It is also the seat of the Fujian Association. The main worship is Mazu. The one on the left is dedicated to Guanyin Buddha, and the one on the right is dedicated to Emperor Baosheng. Every traditional festival, descendants of immigrants from Fujian will also hold celebrations at Qingfu Palace in the manner taught by their ancestors.

Guanyin Temple was built by immigrants from Guangdong in the early 19th century.

Not far to the east of Chinatown is the Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue. It was completed in 1896 and is the only remaining synagogue in Myanmar. At the end of the 1st century, Yangon became one of the most prosperous port cities in Southeast Asia under the construction of British colonists, thus attracting a large number of Jews to do business here. The decoration inside the synagogue is very exquisite, and Stars of David representing the Jews can be seen everywhere. Now it has become an important place for many national leaders to meet with Israeli dignitaries.

Go north and you can see the vegetable market. The prices here are much cheaper than in China.

Saw an Indian temple.

Further north you can see a red church - Holy Trinity Cathedral, which is the largest Catholic church in Yangon. It was built in 1895 and is made of red bricks and stone with a minaret. It is a neo-Gothic style building. , many British priests have preached here. The soaring arcades and colorful decorations inside the church incorporate a variety of Southeast Asian elements, which together give people a solemn and elegant feeling.

Next to the church is the Aung San Market. The market is divided into eight major areas including clothing, handicrafts, gemstones, seafood, fruits and vegetables, and home appliances. There are nearly 2,000 stalls. This is the largest tourist handicraft market in Yangon.

An ancient building near Aung San Market

Walking east, you can see Sakura Tower, which is the tallest building in Yangon.

Going further east, you can see St. Mary Catholic Cathedral. The church was built in 1895 and was not officially completed until 1899. It was designed by Dutch architect Joseph Cuypers. The architectural style of the entire church was inspired by 19th-century Europe. The prevailing "Gothic Revival" influence, with towering spiers on both sides, exterior walls and interior design with complex decoration and flying buttresses, is very ornamental.

small church next to

To the south of St. Mary's Cathedral is the Secretariat Office. It is the most famous and largest colonial building in Yangon. This is not only the location of the British colonial government offices, but also has extremely important significance to the Burmese people - in 1947, Aung San Suu Kyi’s father, General Aung San, negotiated Myanmar’s independence here with British officials, and during the negotiations He was assassinated in the process. The assassination of General Aung San also cast a shadow over this magnificent colonial building.

I came to Yangon Railway Station

Taking the city-circling train is not only a good way to travel through Yangon's famous attractions, but it is also the most unique way to truly understand the life of the locals. As the train gets further and further away from the city center, the stations it passes through will become smaller and smaller, and the closer you can get to the village life beside the railway tracks - simple bamboo shack houses, dense weeds, and people walking on the railway tracks. Children laughing and playing and colorful cages hanging outdoors are sights rarely seen in the bustling city center.

Get off at Insein train station

Crossing the overpass

There are pagodas everywhere on the roadside

I walked under the Aung Zeya Bridge

According to Qiongyou Tips, this is a water bus station where you can take a boat tour on the Yangon River.

But after waiting for more than an hour, I still didn't see the boat docking, so I had to give up this tour.

Take the bus at Qiaotou to the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Maps around Shwedagon Pagoda

The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, also known as the "Shwedagon Pagoda", is the national symbol of Myanmar. Together with the Borobudur Tower in Indonesia and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, it is known as a treasure of oriental art. , a world-famous pagoda, a masterpiece of world architectural art, and also a valuable pagoda. Legend has it that two businessmen from the country of Meng once obtained eight hairs of Buddha. After the businessmen brought the hair back to Myanmar, the king at that time built a pagoda to worship the Buddha's hair. After continuous reconstruction and additions, this pagoda finally formed the Shwedagon Pagoda in front of everyone. The Shwedagon Pagoda was built in 585 BC. It was only 20 meters high when it was first built. It has been repaired many times in the past dynasties. Today the tower is 112 meters tall, with a base of 115 square meters and a base circumference of 427 meters. People must walk barefoot when entering the pagoda, even heads of state are no exception, otherwise it will be regarded as the greatest disrespect to the Buddha.

The shape of the Shwedagon Pagoda is like an inverted giant bell. It is located on the platform of the top of the mountain. There are entrances in four directions at the foot of the mountain. Each has a covered bridge leading to the platform on the top of the mountain. In the center of the platform is the Shwedagon Pagoda. The Shwedagon Pagoda consists of Built of bricks, the tower is covered with more than 1,000 pure gold foils, and the gold used weighs more than 7 tons. The topmost layer is also inlaid with 5,448 small diamonds, 2,317 rubies, and 1,065 golden bells. The top of the tower is even inlaid with a 76-carat diamond, which shows the piety of Myanmar Buddhists. There are more than 15,000 gold and silver bells hanging around the tower. The wind blows the bells, which are crisp and sweet, and the sound spreads in all directions. There are four medium-sized pagodas in the southeast, northwest and northwest of Shwedagon Pagoda. In addition, there are 64 small pagodas built around it. There is a circular corridor outside for believers and tourists to worship. There are countless small temples and pagodas outside the corridor, which together " Occupying the "mountaintop platform." During the day, the Shwedagon Pagoda looks magnificent under the sunlight. When the sun sets, bright lights will light up around the Shwedagon Pagoda, reflecting another kind of magnificent momentum.

As the most iconic landmark in Yangon, the Shwedagon Pagoda has witnessed the countless struggles of the Burmese people against colonial rule and military dictatorship. During the colonial period of the British Empire, the British were severely criticized by the Burmese people for not taking off their shoes and socks when entering the pagoda. The demand that "you must take off your shoes and socks before entering the pagoda" became the epitome of Myanmar's anti-colonial rule movement. In the era of resistance to military dictatorship, Aung San Suu Kyi once gave a speech here during the 8888 Democratic Movement, and during the "Kasaya Revolution" in 2007, the Shwedagon Pagoda was the center of the entire protest movement.

The gate at the foot of the mountain (West Gate)

Corridor, partially equipped with escalators

Look back

Enter the top platform and see the Shwedagon Pagoda up close

medium sized pagoda

circular corridor

Countless small temples and pagodas

East Gate and Corridor

The east gate of the Shwedagon Pagoda faces the Kandawgyi Lake. The lake is very large and there are no high-rise buildings around it. At first glance, there are only green plants and lake water. The surrounding lawns are neatly manicured, with lush tropical plants, some even cut into shapes. It is more like an open park and a good place for local young people to fall in love.

Walking north along the lakeside path, you can see many temples.

Soon you will see a temple built on the mountain. This is the Ngar Htat Gyi Pagoda. The temple is five stories high and houses a 14-meter-high sitting Buddha. Legend has it that the temple was donated by Minyedeippa, a prince of the Toungoo Dynasty in the 17th century, and the sitting Buddha was built in 1900. It is dressed in very gorgeous royal costumes, with a crown on its head, and a calm expression, which stands out from the complicated and exquisite wood carvings in the background. contrast.

Crossing a road, you come to Chaukhtatgyi Paya. This large reclining Buddha is 20 meters long and 5.4 meters high. It was first built in 1907. After experiencing various natural and man-made disasters, it officially became the current large reclining Buddha statue in 1960. The face of the Reclining Buddha is very exquisitely decorated. Not only are the eyes made of glass inlaid clear and lively, but also the eyelashes are thick and long. His right hand gently supports his head, and his eyes are looking at all living beings. His expression is open-minded and peaceful, as if he is listening to the devout prayers of believers. .

Inya Lake is located in the north of the city, about 6 kilometers away from the city. It is the largest lake in Yangon. The local Chinese call it Swallow Lake. Surrounding the lake is a vast natural park. The ecological environment of the entire park is well maintained. The park is full of tropical plants and has beautiful scenery. There are also several famous Yangon galleries, which are a dating place for many young people in Yangon.

The University of Yangon is located on the banks of Inya Lake. It is the oldest and most famous university in Myanmar. It was founded in 1878 and was first known as the Calcutta Affiliated College. It was a base used by the British colonial government to cultivate business and management talents. In 1904 and 1920, the college was renamed "Government College". In 1920, the college merged with Judson College to become "Rangoon University", setting up majors imitating the universities of Cambridge and Oxford in the United Kingdom. The main subjects are humanities, science and engineering and law.

Yangon University has trained many well-known political figures such as General Aung San and his daughter Aung San Suu Kyi, former Myanmar Prime Minister U Nu, and former President Ne Win. As the most well-known university in Myanmar, Yangon University has been the center of the anti-colonial rule movement since the colonial period. After Myanmar’s independence, students at Yangon University have taken on the role of leaders of the people’s movement. The campus has a peaceful and peaceful atmosphere. It is difficult to associate it with the turmoil of the times. There are still many old buildings here.