Yangon

Template:Infobox Burmese city Yangon (Template:Lang-my, population 4,082,000 (2005 census), formerly Rangoon), is the largest city of Myanmar (formerly Burma) and its former capital. The city is located at the convergence of the Yangon and Bago Rivers, and is about 30 km (19 mi) away from the Gulf of Martaban. Yangon is located at 16°48' North, 96°09' East (16.8, 96.15), and its standard time zone is UTC/GMT +6:30 hours. In November 2005, the military junta began relocating the capital to Naypyidaw, Mandalay Division which was officially named as the new capital on 26 March 2006.

As compared to other major cities in Southeast Asia, Yangon is relatively undeveloped. 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 remodelled throughout Downtown and the Greater Yangon areas. Yangon has the largest number of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia today. Government offices inside colonial buildings (e.g. High Court, City Hall, Bogyoke Market and General Hospital) have been listed for renovation. New Towns (Template:My) and other suburban areas, such as Thaketa Township continue to be impoverished.

Yangon is a combination of the two words yan (Template:My) and koun (Template:My), which mean "enemies" and "run out of" respectively.

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

History

Central Yangon

Yangon was founded as Dagon in the 500s by the Mon, who had dominated the lower portions of present-day Myanmar at the time. Dagon was a small fishing village centred about the Shwedagon Pagoda. In 1753, King Alaungpaya conquered Lower Burma, and renamed Dagon, "Yangon". The city was destroyed by a fire in 1841, and suffered extensive damage in the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852.

The British Empire seized Yangon in 1852, and transformed it into the commercial and political hub of Burma. As Lower Burma became integrated into British India, the city's present boundaries were established, with the Cantonment's streets (Downtown) paved in a chessboard fashion along the eastern banks of the Yangon River following the Second Anglo-Burmese War, planned by military engineers Fraser and Montgomerie, and developed by the Public Works Department and the Bengal Corps of Engineers. In addition, the British introduced a westernised educational system in Burma, establishing major colleges, such as Judson College (modern-day Yangon University) and the Theological College for Karens (modern-day Myanmar Institute of Theology). In addition, many religiously-affiliated boarding schools were built in order to teach English, Anglo-Burmese and Christian Karen children. During the colonial period, Rangoon's main industries were rice and timber, although other exports, such as raw cotton, precious stones, cheroots, and ivory were also exported. By the early 1900s, Rangoon had public services and infrastructure on par with London.

Rangoon was heavily damaged by an earthquake and tsunami in 1930, and again during World War II. After the war, it retained its position as capital of Myanmar. Before WWII, Indians formed the majority in Rangoon; however, after independence, the population became more Bamar. (Note: Nowadays, the size of the population of ethnic minorities is gradually getting larger). Because the colonial policies that encouraged Indian and Chinese immigration, as well as Caucasian intermixing with the local Bamar were dismantled, their presence has dwindled significantly. The English name Rangoon was officially changed in 1989 to Yangon. This is controversial, however, because the military junta that changed the name is not officially recognised as legitimate by some governments. For example, the United States government still maintains the usage of Rangoon, as well as Burma. Likewise, street names were renamed in Burmese. However, many locals continue to use British names for major streets. In 1996, to protect some colonial buildings under government jurisdiction, the Burmese government devised a "Heritage List", of buildings to preserve. Yangon was site of the World Buddhist Summit in December 2004, which was attended by over 1,000 monks and world leaders including Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand. On 6 November 2005, the junta began its move from Yangon to the newly-developed city of Naypyidaw, 320 km north in Mandalay Division. The motives for this were unclear, although it has been suggested that the regime moved further inland for a better position in the event of an Iraq-style invasion. Other theories include easier control of Karen, Shan, and Chin States, and that the regime wanted a capital free from foreign telecommunications.

As of mid-2006, residents living in certain townships of Yangon have been required to hang family photographs (of members inhabiting a home) for security purposes. Likewise, residents of Yangon must keep a list of family members. Visitors and guests living in the homes of Yangon residents must register with local authorities before doing so.

Administration

Yangon City Hall (YCDC)

Yangon is administered by the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). YCDC also coordinates urban planning. 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.

Administrative divisions

File:Yangoncitydistrictsmap.png

Districts of Yangon

Yangon Municipality's jurisdictions are inclusive of 32 townships. Myo-thit (lit. "New Towns", or satellite towns) are not within such jurisdictions.

Western District (Downtown)

• Ahlone Township
• Bahan Township
• Dagon Township
• Kyauktada Township
• Kyeemyintdine Township
• Lanmadaw Township
• Latha Township
• Pabedan Township
• 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
• Mingaladone Township
• Pazundaung Township
• Shwepyitha Township

Southern District

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

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 Institutes of Medicine in Myanmar are located in Yangon.

Cultural sites

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

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, 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.

Transport

All international air travel arrives at the Yangon International Airport, which is located about 19 km (12 mi) from Downtown Yangon. Buses are cramped with daily commuters. An archaic railroad extends to upper Myanmar. Cars, although expensive, have become increasingly more 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 and China). 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. 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

More photos

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

References

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

External links

• Yangon Travel Guide by Wikitravel
• Satellite picture by Google Maps
• Yangon City Hall website
• YCDC website

16°47′N 96°09′E