Information about Yangon

Yangon
Downtown Yangon, facing Sule Pagoda and Hlaing River Downtown Yangon, facing Sule Pagoda and Hlaing River
Yangon (Myanmar) Yangon Location of Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)
Coordinates:
Country	Myanmar (Burma)
Admin. division	Yangon Division
Government
- Mayor	Brigadier General Aung Thein Lynn
Area
- City	SI
- Urban	SI
Population (2005)[1]
- City	4,107,000
- Ethnicities	Bamar, Anglo-Burmese, Burmese Chinese, Burmese Indians, Kayin
- Religions	Buddhism, Christianity, Islam
Website: www.yangoncity.com.mm

Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the largest city of Myanmar. The city is located at the convergence of the Yangon and Bago Rivers about 19 miles (30 km) away from the Gulf of Martaban. At 16°48' North, 96°09' East (16.8, 96.15), its standard time zone is UTC/GMT +6:30 hours. In November 2005, the military junta began relocating the capital to Naypyidaw, a new city in Mandalay Division, which was officially named as the new capital on 26 March 2006.^[2]

Yangon is a combination of the two words yan (ရန္) and koun (ကုန္), which mean "enemies" and "run out of" respectively. It is also translated as "end of strife". "Rangoon" most likely comes from the British imitation of the pronunciation of "Yangon" in the Arakanese dialect of Burmese.

After military leader General Ne Win took over the country in 1962, Yangon was and still is relatively undeveloped compared to other major cities in Southeast Asia. Construction is booming, mostly through the influx of foreign investment (from Singapore and China). Many multi-storied residential and commercial buildings (taik) have been reconstructed or remodeled throughout Downtown and the Greater Yangon areas. Yangon has the largest number of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia today.^[3] Government offices inside colonial buildings (e.g. High Court, City Hall, Bogyoke Market and General Hospital) have been listed for renovation.^[4]Other suburban areas, such as Thaketa Township continue to be impoverished.

Yangon is a member of Asian Network of Major Cities 21.

History

Early History

Yangon was founded as Dagon in the 6th century AD by the Mon, who dominated the present day Lower Burma at that time. Dagon was a small fishing village centered about the Shwedagon Pagoda. In 1755, King Alaungpaya conquered Dagon, and renamed it "Yangon". The British captured Yangon during the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) but returned it to Burmese administration after the war. The city was destroyed by a fire in 1841.

Colonial Rangoon (1852-1948)

The British Empire seized Yangon and all of Lower Burma in the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852, and subsequently transformed Yangon into the commercial and political hub of British Burma. Based on the design by army engineer Lt. Fraser, the British constructed a new city on a grid plan on delta land, bounded to the east by the Pazundaung Creek and to the south and west by the Yangon River. By the 1890s Yangon's increasing population and commerce gave birth to prosperous residential suburbs to the north of Royal Lake (Kandawgyi) and Inya Lake. ^[5] The British also established hospitals including Rangoon General Hospital and colleges including Rangoon University.

Colonial Yangon, with its spacious parks and lakes and mix of modern buildings and traditional wooden architecture, was known as "the garden city of the East." ^[6] By the early 20th century, Yangon had public services and infrastructure on par with London.^[7]

Before World War II, almost half of Yangon's population was Indian.^[8]

Yangon incurred heavy damage during World War II.

Contemporary Yangon (1948-present)

Soon after Burma's independence in 1948, many colonial names of streets and parks were changed to more nationalistic Burmese names. In 1989, the current military junta changed the city's English name to "Yangon", along with many other changes in English transliteration of Burmese names. (The changes have not been accepted by many Burmese who consider the junta unfit to make such changes.)

Since independence, Yangon has expanded outwards. Successive governments have built satellite towns such as Thuwana and Okkalapa in the 1950s to New Dagon in the 1990s. Today, Greater Yangon encompasses an area covering nearly 400 square miles (1000 sqkm).

During Gen. Ne Win's isolationist rule (1962-1988), Yangon's infrastructure never kept up with its increasing population, and deteriorated severely. In the 1990s, the current military junta's relatively more open market economy saw an influx of investment. Many colonial-period buildings were demolished to make way for high-rise hotels, office buildings, and shopping malls. (In 1996, to protect some colonial buildings under government jurisdiction, the Burmese government devised a "Heritage List".) Some inner city residents were relocated to new satellite towns. Major road-and bridge-building programs were undertaken, including construction of a bridge across the river to Thanlyin and its industrial hinterland. ^[9] Still, much of Yangon remains without 24-hour electricity and regular rubbish collection.

Yangon has become much more indigenous Burmese in its ethnic makeup since independence. After independence, many Indians and Anglo-Burmese left. Many more Indians were forced to leave during the 1960s by Gen. Ne Win's military government. Nevertheless, sizable Indian and Chinese communities still exist in Yangon.

In November 2005, the military junta designated the newly developed city of Naypyidaw,  mi ( km) north in Mandalay Division as the new administrative capital. The motives for the move remain unclear. At any rate, Yangon remains the largest city, and the most important commercial center of Burma.

Notables

• Yangon was the site of the sixth Buddhist Synod in 1955. It was the site of the World Buddhist Summit in December 2004, where over 1,000 monks and world leaders including Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand attended.
• As of 2006, residents in certain townships of Yangon are required to hang family photographs (of members inhabiting a home) for "security" reasons.^[10] Likewise, residents of Yangon must keep a list of family members.^[10] Visitors and guests living in the homes of Yangon residents must register with local authorities prior to moving in.^[11]

Administration

Yangon is administered by the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). YCDC also coordinates urban planning.^[12] The city is divided into four districts. The districts combined have a total of 32 townships. The mayor of Yangon currently is Brigadier General Aung Thein Lynn. Each township is administered by a committee of township leaders, who make decisions regarding city beautification and infrastructure. Myo-thit (lit. "New Towns", or satellite towns) are not within such jurisdictions.

Western District (Downtown)

• Ahlone Township --
• Bahan Township --
• Dagon Township -- Home for the historic Shwedagon Pagoda; famous for its luxury apartments and houses along Pyay (Prome) Road and U Wisara Road.
• Kyauktada Township -- Home of many historic buildings, including the City Hall, the High Court, colonial era buildings, the Strand Hotel as well as embassies of the US, the UK, Australia, and India.
• Kyeemyintdine Township
• Lanmadaw Township (Burmese: လမ္‌းမတော္‌မ္ရုိ့နယ္‌‌; MLCTS: lam: ma. taw mrui. nai; IPA: [lánmədɔ̀ mjo̰ʊnɛ̀]; population 37,339; abbreviated LMDW) -- Encompassing an area of  sq mi ( km), Lanmadaw Township shares borders with Latha Township in the east, Ahlone Township in the west, Seikkan Township in the south, and Dagon Township in the north. The township has a large population of ethnic Chinese and contains 17 joss houses (Burmese bon-kyaung). The Ministry of Energy has headquarters in Lanmadaw Township.

• Latha Township -- Chinatown of Yangon. Maha Bandula Road starting from Lanmadaw Road to Latha Road is one of the major shopping districts in downtown Yangon, with many street vendors, local shops, and goldsmiths.
• Pabedan Township -- Center of six major downtown townships, it is the home for many bazaars in Yangon. The famous Bogyoke Aung San Market is located here. Shwedagon Paya Road and Bogyoke Aung San Road are always crowded with shoppers, and merchants during daytime.
• Sanchaung Township
• Seikkan Township

Eastern District

• Dagon Seikkan Township
• East Dagon Township
• North Dagon Township
• North Okkalapa Township
• South Dagon Township
• South Okkalapa Township
• Thingangyun Township
• Botahtaung Township

Northern District

• Hlaing Township
• Hlaingthaya Township
• Insein Township
• Kamayut Township
• Mayangone Township
• Mingaladon Township
• Pazundaung Township
• Shwepyitha Township

Southern District

• Dala Township
• Dawbon Township
• Mingalataungnyunt Township
• Thaketa Township
• Tamwe Township
• Yankin Township
• Seikkyi Kanaungto Township

Road Layout

Yangon had been a model city in Southeast Asia. Three kinds of roads were incorporated into the design. Roads running west to east were broad roads wide. Roads running south consisted of two small wide roads, one medium-sized road wide, two more 35 feet wide roads and then one broad wide road. This order was repeated from west to east. The smaller roads were numbered, while the medium and broad roads were given names, some for eminent persons of that time.

As laid down, there was the 100 foot wide Lanmadaw Road, followed by 17th and 18th street, which were small roads, then the medium 58 foot road Sint-O-Dan Road, next the smaller 19th and 20th streets, followed by 100 foot wide Latha Road, followed again by the two numbered small roads 21st and 22nd streets.

The roads running parallel west to east were the Strand Road, Merchant Road, Dalhousie Road (Maha Bandoola), Fraser Road, (Anawrahta) and Montgomery Commissioner Road (Bogyoke Aung San).

Climate

Yangon has an equatorial monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification system.

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Avg high °C (°F)	31 (89)	34 (94)	36 (97)	37 (99)	33 (92)	30 (86)	29 (85)	29 (85)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (89)	31 (88)	32 (90)
Avg low temperature °C (°F)	18 (65)	19 (67)	21 (71)	24 (76)	25 (78)	25 (77)	24 (76)	24 (76)	24 (76)	25 (77)	22 (73)	19 (67)	22 (73)

Source: Weatherbase

Culture

The vernacular language of Yangon is Burmese. English is widely spoken among the elder generation and educated Burmese.

Yangon is home to the oldest university in Myanmar. A former affiliated college of the University of Calcutta, Yangon University was officially founded as a separate institute of higher learning in 1920. Two of the four Universities of Medicine in Myanmar are located in Yangon.

Media

Television Stations

The main TV Stations are located in Yangon. There are two local TV channels: TV Myanmar and Myawaddy with programs running from 7 am to 4 am; and from 4 pm to 11 pm. Most hotels also have satellite TV. Myawaddy was started on the 27th March, 1995. The average broadcasting hours is about 8 hours per day when it started. But now there's more, MRTV3, MRTV4 and Channel 5.

MRTV 3 - English programs are telecast for viewers in Myanmar from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. The transmission hours for viewers from abroad are from 13:00 P.M. to 14:00 P.M., 18:00 P.M. to 19:00 P.M., and from 02:00 A.M. to 04:00 A.M. It is an English channel for oversea audience. It can be received from 126 countries and is transmitted from Thaicom-3 C Band Global beam. In addition, the Ministry have also broadcast the MRTV3 programs pm the Internet using web based video streaming system via the gateway of Myanma Posts and Telecommunications. It can be accessed on Internet through [1] web site.

MRTV 4 - It was launched on (15-5-2004) like a streaming video via satellite. MRTV 4 contains non-formal education programs and other entertainment programs. But for receiving, it can be matched by MMBox (Myanmar Media Box). This transmission contains educational programs from Ministries, Myanmar movies, English movies with Myanmar subtitles, cartoon programs and other entertainment programs. The transmission time is from 7 am to 11pm daily. For more quality and convenience, MRTV 4 will soon be broadcasting with Digital Video Broadcasting Technology (DVBT) terrestrial system.

Channel 5 - Broadcasts movies in different languages such as English, Chinese, Indian etc ... but all the movies are subtitled in Myanmar language. There are great cartoon programs for the children too.

Radio

The Myanmar Radio National Service (576 kHz MW, various SW, and 104 MHz FM) broadcasts English on the following schedule: 8:30 am to 9:00am 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm; and 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm. City FM (89.0 MHz) broadcasts from 08:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M., and from 13:00 P.M. to 17:00 P.M. daily, starting from January 1, 2002. City FM broadcasts from 7 am in the morning till 9pm in the evening. Myanmar & English songs, Entertainment programs, Live Interviews with Movie Stars are broadcast from this station.

Newspapers and Magazines

Three morning newspapers Myanmar Ah Lin and Kye mon in Myanmar and The New Light of Myanmar in English are published in Yangon and The Yadanabon News in Myanmar is published in Mandalay. Myanmar Times Journal (English Version) is distributed every Monday, and the Myanmar Version is distributed every Friday. Both journals are published in Yangon. The locally published magazines in English; Golden Myanmar, Myanmar Chronicle, and Myanmar Perspective, are available in bookshops. Foreign newspapers such International Herald Tribune, as Singapore Straits Times. and some foreign magazines and periodicals are available at In-wa (Ava) Bookshop, No.232, Sule Pagoda Road. There are also a number of journals and magazines issued weekly and monthly. Magazines have somewhat taken over the new generation and youth of the past few decades are turning to more Westernized publications dealing with issues such as fashion, the superstar life, and glamour.There are large amounts of paparazzi magazines and fashion publications.

There are a variety of ways to enjoy Yangon through the performing arts. There is also a large number of "cafes", or nightclubs in the city. Yangon has several cinema multiplexes

Museums and art galleries

• National Museum (History and Ancient Art)
• Defense Service Museum (Military)
• Gems and Jewelry Museum
• Bogyoke Aung San Museum
• Drugs Elimination Museum
• Planetarium

Concert halls and theatres

• National Theatre
• Myanmar Covention Centre

Nightlife

Most bigger Hotels in Yangon and elsewhere offer some kind of nightlife entertainment.Some offer native shows with Myanmar dancing and a Myanmar orchestra as background music and maybe some artistic show. Pubs and bars in the big hotels offer just more or less the same as elsewhere in Asia. Other Myanmar nightlife variant are plenty of disco, karaoke and pub - restaurants in certain places like Yangon Chinatown.

Urban lifestyle

Bogyoke Aung San Market, one of Yangon's oldest shopping places, has also been a tourist hotspot and a hangout for teenagers. Although a major Asian city, the pace of life is somewhat relaxed, as the city offers enormous amounts of getaway locations. Many people of the city of Yangon go shopping, hanging out with friends or go to places such as Peoples' Park and Peoples' Square, Kandawgyi Park, Hlawgar Park on weekends. Some people leave the city on weekends to visit beach resorts such as Chaung Tha and Ngwe Saung beaches which are in Ayerwaddy Division. Youths of Yangon tend to stay within the city and use the weekends to relax. Most Yangonites spend their time at the almost ubiquitous tea-shops, which can be found in any corner or street of the city. Religion doesn't play a very influential role in the capital as it does in other cities. A good proportion of the population remains devout and daily offers the monks who walk their neighbourhoods alms. Christians and Muslims live freely throughout the city as there are many churches and mosques in the downtown.

Cultural sites

• Allied War Memorial
• Alan Pya Paya (formerly Signal Pagoda)
• Bogyoke Market (Scott Market)
• Botahtaung Pagoda
• Chaukhtatgyi Paya
• Inya Lake (formerly Lake Victoria)
• Kandawgyi Lake (formerly Royal Lake)
• Kyaukdawgyi Paya
• The People's Square and Park
• Mahabandoola Park (formerly Fitche Square)
• National Race Village
• St. Mary's Cathedral
• Shwedagon Pagoda
• Sule Pagoda
• University of Yangon
• Yangon Zoological Gardens
• Zafar Shah's Daragah

Economy

Yangon is the economic centre of Myanmar. The currency is known as the "Kyat". The majority of imports and exports come through Yangon, mostly through the Yangon River (Hlaing River), which merges with the Ayeyarwady River (also known as the Irrawaddy River, the main river of Myanmar. In 2004, the government authorised Shanghai Jingqiao Export Processing Zone Development Corporation to create plans for Myanmar's largest Special Economic Zone, to be built in Thanlyin Township, adjacent to Thilawa Port. The plans were finished in 2006, and approval is pending.^[13]

Education

Universities and Colleges

• East Yangon University
• Thingangyun Education College
• West Yangon University
• Yangon Institute of Economics
• Yangon Institute of Education
• Yangon Institute of Marine Technology
• Yangon Institute of Nursing
• Yangon Technological University
• Yangon University
• Yangon University of Dental Medicine
• Yangon University of Computer Studies (UCSY)
• Yangon University of Culture
• Yangon University of Distant Education
• Yangon University of Foreign Languages
• Yangon University of Medicine 1
• Yangon University Of Medicine 2
• Yangon University of Para-Medical Science
• Yangon University of Pharmacy
• Yankin Education College

Notable High Schools

Public

• Bahan 2
• Botataung 6
• Dagon 1
• Dagon 2
• Lanmadaw 1
• Lanmadaw 2
• Latha 1
• Latha 2
• Sangyoung 2
• TTC

Private

• Horizon International Education Centre (HIEC)
• International School, Yangon
• Yangon International Educare Centre (YIEC)

Health Care

In Yangon, there are several hospitals and clinics. Some of them are under the management of Ministry of Health and the rest are operated privately. Myanmar has many internationally qualified surgeons and physicians in all branches of medical field. There is, however, a wide range of variability in quality, expertise, expenses and services offered. Frequently medical experts from abroad visit Yangon to take care of medical and surgical cases together with Myanmar counterparts.

Hospitals and Polyclinics

• Yangon General Hospital(run by government)
• New Yangon General Hospital (run by government)
• Easten Yangon Hospital (run by government)
• Western Yangon Hospital (run by government)
• Workers' Hospital (run by government)
• Thingangyun San Pya Hospital (run by government)
• Wai Bar Gee Hospital (run by government)
• Ywar Tha Gyi Psychiatric Hospital (run by government)
• Pun Hlaing International Hospital (Private)
• Shwe Gone Dine Hospital (Private)
• Bahosi Medical Clinic (Private)
• Jivitadana Sangha Hospital (with free services for monks)

Transport

Air Transport

All international air travel arrives at the Yangon International Airport, which is located about 12 mi (19 km) from Downtown Yangon. Yangon International Airport recently opened a new passenger terminal to accommodate bigger aircraft and to promote tourism.

Buses and Cars

Buses are cramped with daily commuters. Cars, although expensive, have become increasingly common on Yangon's streets, and there is much traffic congestion. The government regularly places restrictions on car imports. As a result, the black market is the primary source of used and new cars (which primarily come from Thailand, Japan and China). Drivers travel on the right side of the road. In addition, because the government rations petrol, the majority of cars utilise both government-supplied and black market-supplied gasoline. Within Yangon, it is illegal to drive trishaws, bicycles, and motorcycles.

Rail Roads

The railroads extend to upper Myanmar from Yangon Central Railway Station. There's a local circuit rail system which connects all parts of the city.

Changes

After Burma obtained independence in 1948, many street names were changed, although some continue to be used interchangeably. The following list presents major thoroughfare name changes within Yangon city limits:

• Campbell Road → Ngahtatgyi Pagoda Road
• Dalhousie Street → Mahabandoola Road
• Lower Kemmendine Road → Lower Kyimyindi Road
• Montgomery Street → Bogyoke Aung San Road
• Pagoda Road → Shwedagon Pagoda Road
• Prome Road → Pyay Road
• Upper Phayre Road → Upper Pansodan Road
• Sparks Street → Bo Aung Kyaw Street
• Stockade Road and Judah Ezekiel Road → Theinbyu Road
• Voyle Road → U Wisara Road
• Lancaster Road → Nawaday Road
• Windermere Road → Than Lwin Road
• Windsor Road → Shin Sawpu Road
• Stevenson Road → Hledan Road
• Fraser Road → Anawratha Road
• Lewis Street → Seikkanthar Street
• Bar Street → Mahahbandula Park Street
• York Street→ Yaw Min Gyi Street

More photos

Downtown Yangon, facing Sule Pagoda and Hlaing River	Downtown Yangon by night	Karaweik Palace on Kandawgyi Lake	Downtown flats
The High Court as seen from Mahabandoola Garden	Shwedagon Pagoda, a landmark of Yangon	Ngahtatgyi Buddha image	Downtown Yangon In The Evening
Central Yangon	Taxi at Yangon City Hall	Yangon River Jetty

References

• The Popular Encyclopedia or Conversation Lexicon. Blackie & Son, 1890.

Notes

External links

• by
• Yangon Impressions - Mashup of up-to-date photos, events, hotel information, maps and articles on Rangoon and Shwedagon (German/English)
• Satellite picture by Google Maps
• Yangon City Hall website
• BBC article about British colonial architecture in Yangon
• YCDC website
• Rangoon Photo Gallery
• * Maps and aerial photos for Coordinates:
• Maps from Google Maps, Live Search Maps, , Yahoo! Maps, or MapQuest
• Topographic maps from TopoZone
• Landuse survey from GlobalGuide