Yangon
The name Yangon translates to 'End of Strife' in Burmese, yet the land it occupies has witnessed centuries of conflict. This city began as Dagon in the early 11th century under Mon people who inhabited Lower Burma at that time. King Pontarika ruled during this founding period between 1028 and 1043 according to historical records. The settlement grew into an important pilgrimage town by the 14th century during the Hanthawaddy kingdom era. Princess Maha Dewi governed Dagon from 1364 until 1392 before her grandniece Shin Saw Pu took control. Queen Saw Pu built a palace next to the Shwedagon Pagoda in 1460 and lived there until her death in 1471. She became the only female queen regnant in Burmese history while ruling the growing town. In 1755 King Alaungpaya captured Dagon and renamed the enlarged town Yangon after adding surrounding settlements. The East India Company opened a factory here in the 1790s marking early commercial interest. By 1823 the estimated population reached about 30,000 people living within the expanding borders.
British forces captured Yangon and all of Lower Burma during the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852 transforming it into the commercial hub of British Burma. Army engineer Lt. Alexander Fraser designed a new city on grid plan delta land bounded by Pazundaung Creek and the Yangon River. The capital moved from Moulmein to Yangon after this war establishing its political dominance. By the 1890s prosperous residential suburbs developed north of Royal Lake and Inya Lake as commerce grew. Hospitals like Rangoon General Hospital and colleges including Rangoon University were established during colonial rule. Before World War II about 55% of Yangon's population of 500,000 was Indian or South Asian while only one third was Bamar. Karens Chinese Anglo-Burmese and others made up the remaining population mix. Colonial Yangon became known as 'the garden city of the East' with spacious parks mixing modern buildings and traditional wooden architecture. Public services and infrastructure matched London standards by the early 20th century. After World War I students at Rangoon University led three nationwide strikes against British rule in 1920 1936 and 1938.
Yangon became the capital of the Union of Burma on the 4th of January 1948 when the country gained independence from British rule. Many colonial-era street names changed to nationalistic Burmese names soon after independence. In 1989 the military junta officially changed the city's English name to Yangon though many publications including the BBC rejected this change. The city served as center for major anti-government protests in 1974 1988 and 2007. The 8888 Uprising resulted in deaths of hundreds if not thousands of civilians flooding streets of the former capital. The Saffron Revolution saw mass shootings and use of crematoria by government to erase evidence of crimes against monks and unarmed protesters. Streets witnessed bloodshed each time protesters were gunned down during these events. Cyclone Nargis hit Yangon in May 2008 destroying or damaging three-quarters of industrial infrastructure with losses estimated at US$800 million. In November 2005 the military designated Naypyidaw north of Yangon as new administrative capital moving much government there. On the 7th of May 2005 coordinated bombings killed eleven people injuring one member of an LCMS mission team. Life was greatly affected by COVID-19 pandemic and 2021 coup d'état prompting lockdowns and curfews that slowed the economy.
Downtown Yangon remains largely made up of decaying colonial buildings despite being the most expensive property market in the city. The former High Court Secretariat buildings St Paul's English High School and Strand Hotel stand as excellent examples of this bygone era. Most downtown buildings from this period are four-story mix-use structures with high ceilings allowing mezzanine construction. Despite poor conditions these buildings remain highly sought after by developers and investors. In 1996 the Yangon City Development Committee created a heritage list protecting about 200 notable colonial-period buildings from modification without approval. A 50-year moratorium on demolition of buildings older than 50 years took effect in 2012. Eight-story apartment buildings provide inexpensive housing for many residents though they look rundown due to shoddy construction. City regulations until February 2008 required lifts only in buildings higher than eight stories creating unique architectural patterns. Unlike other major Asian cities no building exceeds 75% height above sea level of Shwedagon Pagoda which rises about 326 feet. Older satellite towns like Thaketa North Okkalapa and South Okkalapa feature one to two-story detached houses while newer ones follow grid layouts. Satellite towns receive little or no municipal services despite rapid expansion.
Yangon represents about one fifth of national economy according to official statistics for fiscal year 2010-2011 showing regional GDP of 8.93 trillion kyats. Bayinnaung Market serves as largest wholesale center for rice beans pulses and agricultural commodities throughout the country. Thilawa Port handles much of legal imports and exports as busiest port in Burma. At least 14 light industrial zones ring Yangon employing over 150,000 workers across 4,300 factories by early 2010. The garment industry exported US$292 million during 2008/9 fiscal year with more than 80 percent of factory workers employed day-to-day. Most workers are young women between 15 and 27 years old seeking better lives from countryside areas. Manufacturing sector suffers from chronic power shortages limiting operating hours between 8 am and 6 pm daily. In 2008 Yangon's 2500 factories needed about 120 MW yet entire city received only 250 MW of required 530 MW total. Construction became major employment source though negatively affected by state apparatus moves to Naypyidaw and new regulations requiring 12 parking spaces per high-rise building. Tourism represents major foreign currency source bringing 300,000 to 400,000 visitors through Yangon International Airport in 2011 despite modest hotel infrastructure.
Yangon Central Railway Station serves as main terminus for Myanmar Railways network covering Upper Myanmar Shan hills and Taninthayi coast regions. Yangon Circular Railway operates 39-station commuter rail selling about 150,000 tickets daily becoming heavily used since government reduced petrol subsidies in August 2007. Japan provided over US$200 million in finance during 2017 assisting with developing circular railway line purchasing carriages and upgrading signaling systems. Over 300 public and private bus lines operate about 6,300 crowded buses carrying over 4.4 million passengers daily across the city. All buses and 80 percent of taxis run on compressed natural gas following 2005 government decree saving money on imported petroleum. Highway buses depart from Dagon Ayeyar Highway Bus Terminal for Irrawaddy delta region and Aung Mingala Highway Bus Terminal for other country parts. Car prices among highest globally due to limited import numbers allowing few thousand vehicles yearly into nation of 50 million people. In July 2008 popular cars like 1986/87 Nissan Sunny Super Saloon cost equivalent of US$20,000 while Toyota Corolla SE Limited reached US$29,000. By March 2011 Yangon had about 300,000 registered motor vehicles plus unknown unregistered ones causing significant traffic congestion. On the 16th of January 2017 Yangon Bus Service created by Yangon Region Transport Authority offering disabled-friendly service with card payment system installed on more than 1900 buses as of January 2022.
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Common questions
What does the name Yangon translate to in Burmese?
The name Yangon translates to 'End of Strife' in Burse. The city began as Dagon in the early 11th century under Mon people who inhabited Lower Burma at that time.
When did King Alaungpaya capture Dagon and rename it Yangon?
King Alaungpaya captured Dagon and renamed the enlarged town Yangon in 1755 after adding surrounding settlements. This event marked a significant shift from its earlier history as a pilgrimage town during the Hanthawaddy kingdom era.
Who was the only female queen regnant in Burmese history associated with Yangon?
Queen Shin Saw Pu became the only female queen regnant in Burmese history while ruling the growing town of Dagon. She built a palace next to the Shwedagon Pagoda in 1460 and lived there until her death in 1471.
Why is Yangon known as the garden city of the East?
Colonial Yangon became known as 'the garden city of the East' because spacious parks mixed modern buildings and traditional wooden architecture. Public services and infrastructure matched London standards by the early 20th century, creating this distinct urban character.
What happened to Yangon's status as capital on the 4th of January 1948?
Yangon became the capital of the Union of Burma on the 4th of January 1948 when the country gained independence from British rule. The military designated Naypyidaw north of Yangon as the new administrative capital in November 2005, moving much government there.
How many passengers does the Yangon Circular Railway carry daily?
The Yangon Circular Railway operates 39-station commuter rail selling about 150,000 tickets daily becoming heavily used since government reduced petrol subsidies in August 2007. Japan provided over US$200 million in finance during 2017 assisting with developing circular railway line purchasing carriages and upgrading signaling systems.