Sitting North of Yangon on the Ayeyarwaddy River, Mandalay is Myanmar’s second largest city and after Bagan, is the most historically significant landmark. Today, Mandalay also plays an important role as Myanmar’s cultural centre, and economic hub of Upper Myanmar. Take a walk and you’ll notice the city layout and architecture is neater and more modern compared to its ancient counterparts. For those looking to shop, Mandalay Zaycho is the place to go for a variety of clothing, Laphet (Pickled tea leaves), Kadipar slippers (Velvet Slippers), Silverware, Lacquerware, Jewelry and more.
Key places of interest include Mandalay Hill, the city’s namesake, Shwenandaw Monastery, Mandalay Palace and Mingun. Take some time to visit Amarapura, and the impressive U Bein Bridge, which at 1.2km long, spans the Taungthaman Lake. Built around 1850 and consisting of 1,086 pillars that stretch out of the water, it is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world, although some pillars have been replaced with concrete for safety reasons.