Mandalay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mandalay မန္တလေး
City
From top: Mahamuni Buddha Temple, cultural conservation zones around Mandalay Hill, U Bein Bridge, Zegyo Market, Mandalarthiri Stadium, the Mandalay Palace
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Mandalay Location in Myanmar Show map of Myanmar Mandalay Location in Asia Show map of Asia
Country	Myanmar
Region	Mandalay Region
District	Mandalay District
Founded by	King Mindon
Area
• City	163.84 km2 (63.26 sq mi)
Elevation	22 m (70 ft)
Population  (2014 Census)
• City	1,726,889
• Density	10,540.1/km2 (27,298.7/sq mi)
• Urban	1,319,452
• Rural	407,437
• Ethnic groups	Bamar Chinese Shan & other minorities
• Religions	Theravada Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam
Demonym(s)	Mandalayan
Time zone	UTC+6:30 (MMT)
Area code(s)	02
Vehicle registration	MDY

Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia. It is located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, about 631 kilometers (392 miles) north of Yangon, the largest city. In 2014, Mandalay had a population of over 1.2 million people.

The city was founded in 1857 by King Mindon. It became the last royal capital of the Konbaung dynasty, which was the last independent kingdom in Burma. In 1885, the British Empire took control of Burma, and Mandalay was no longer the capital.

Even under British rule, Mandalay remained an important city for business and culture. However, it suffered a lot of damage during World War II when Japan took over Burma. In 1948, Burma became independent, and Mandalay became part of the new country.

Today, Mandalay is a major economic center in Upper Myanmar. It is also seen as the heart of Burmese culture. The city has seen many people move there, especially from China, which has changed its population and increased trade with China. Mandalay continues to be a key center for business, education, and healthcare in Upper Myanmar.

What's in a Name? The Story of Mandalay's Name

The city of Mandalay gets its name from the nearby Mandalay Hill. The name likely comes from an ancient language called Pali. The exact origin is not clear, but some think it comes from the Pali word maṇḍala, which means "circular plains." Others believe it comes from Mandara, a mythical mountain from Hindu stories.

When the city was first built in 1857, its official name was Yadanarbon. This name means "City of Gems" in Pali. It was also sometimes called Lay Kyun Aung Myei, meaning "Victorious Land over the Four Islands." The royal palace itself was known as Myanan San Kyaw, which means "Famed Royal Emerald Palace."

Mandalay's Past: A Look at Its History

How Mandalay Began

King Mindon founded Mandalay as a royal capital.

Like many old capitals in Burma, Mandalay was built because a ruler wanted it to be. On February 13, 1857, King Mindon decided to build a new royal capital at the base of Mandalay Hill. He did this because of an old prophecy. It said that a great city for Buddhism would be founded in that exact spot during the 2,400th anniversary of Buddhism.

The new capital covered an area of about 25.5 square miles (66 square kilometers). It was surrounded by four rivers. The city plan included a grid of 144 blocks, with a large royal palace in the center. This palace area was 16 blocks big and was near Mandalay Hill. The palace grounds were surrounded by walls about 6,666 feet (2,032 meters) long and a moat that was 210 feet (64 meters) wide and 15 feet (4.6 meters) deep. The walls had watchtowers with golden spires. There were three gates on each side of the wall and five bridges to cross the moat.

The king also ordered the building of important religious sites. These included the Kuthodaw Pagoda, an ordination hall called Pahtan-haw Shwe Thein, and public houses called Thudamma zayat for teaching Buddhism. He also built a library for the Pāli Canon, which are sacred Buddhist texts.

In June 1857, the old royal palace from Amarapura was taken apart. Elephants helped move it to the new location at Mandalay Hill. The palace was officially finished two years later, on May 23, 1859.

For the next 26 years, Mandalay was the last royal capital of the Konbaung dynasty. This was the last independent kingdom in Burma. On November 28, 1885, the British took over the city. They sent King Thibaw Min and Queen Supayalat away to India. Sadly, some soldiers accidentally burned down the Royal Library, which held important historical records. However, the palace, its buildings, and the city walls were saved.

Mandalay Under British Rule (1885–1948)

A strong wall at Mandalay Palace during British colonial times.

During British rule, Mandalay remained the main city in Upper Burma. However, the city of Yangon became more important for business and politics. The British were mostly interested in developing Mandalay for trade. For example, a railway reached Mandalay in 1889, but the first college, Mandalay College, wasn't built until 40 years later in 1925.

The British took some treasures from the palace. Later, in 1964, these treasures were returned to Burma. The British also renamed the palace area Fort Dufferin and used it to house their soldiers.

Throughout the time of British rule, Mandalay was a center for Burmese culture and Buddhist learning. As the last royal capital, it was a strong symbol of Burma's independence and identity. Between World War I and World War II, the city was a key place for protests against British rule. Many immigrants from India also moved to Mandalay during this time. In 1904–1905, a serious illness caused about one-third of the city's population to leave.

Troops of the 19th Indian Division and a tank fighting in Mandalay streets, March 1945.

During World War II, Mandalay was heavily bombed. On April 3, 1942, during the Japanese conquest of Burma, the Japanese military attacked the city. Mandalay had little protection because its firefighting equipment was destroyed, and there were no anti-aircraft defenses. The British air force had also left for India. Three-fifths of Mandalay's homes were destroyed, and 2,000 civilians died. Many people also fled the city during the Japanese occupation from May 1942 to March 1945. The palace, which the Japanese used as a supply base, was burned down by Allied bombing. Only the royal mint and the watch tower survived. A copy of the palace was rebuilt in the 1990s.

Mandalay Today (1948–Present)

After Burma gained independence from Britain in 1948, Mandalay continued to be the main cultural, educational, and economic center of Upper Burma. Until the early 1990s, most students from Upper Burma went to Mandalay for university. Today, the city still has many universities, but the government encourages students to attend local universities to spread out the student population.

In November 1959, Mandalay celebrated its 100th birthday with a festival. Special commemorative stamps were even made for the occasion.

During a period of isolationist rule from 1962 to 1988, the city's buildings and services became run down. By the early 1980s, Mandalay looked more like a small town with low buildings and dusty streets filled with bicycles. In the 1980s, two big fires hit the city. In May 1981, a fire destroyed over 6,000 homes and public buildings, leaving more than 90,000 people without homes. On March 24, 1984, another fire destroyed 2,700 buildings and made 23,000 people homeless. These fires caused a lot of damage.

Fires still happen in the city. A large fire destroyed Mandalay's second-biggest market, Yadanabon Market, in February 2008. Another big fire in February 2009 destroyed 320 homes and left over 1,600 people homeless.

The fires of the 1980s led to big changes in the city's look and its population. Many empty areas left by the fires were bought, mostly by ethnic Chinese people, many of whom had recently moved from Yunnan, China. This movement of Chinese people increased after 1988. Many Chinese immigrants from Yunnan and Sichuan moved to Upper Burma in the 1990s, with many settling in Mandalay. It's estimated that between 250,000 and 300,000 people from Yunnan moved to Mandalay in the 1990s alone. Today, ethnic Chinese people are thought to make up about 40%–50% of the city's population, almost as many as the native people. This has helped the city's population double from about 500,000 in 1980 to one million in 2008. Chinese festivals are now an important part of the city's culture.

Even though Naypyidaw became the country's capital in 2006, Mandalay remains Upper Burma's main center for business, education, and health. In October 2018, Mandalay was recognized as one of the top 10 cities in Southeast Asia working to become a smart city as part of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network.

Mandalay's Location and Environment

Where is Mandalay Located?

Map of Mandalay and the surrounding area from 1971.

Mandalay is in the central Dry Zone of Burma. It sits by the Irrawaddy River at about 21.98° North latitude and 96.08° East longitude. The city is 80 meters (260 feet) above sea level. Its time zone is UTC/GMT +6:30 hours. Mandalay is 626 kilometers (389 miles) from Yangon.

Earthquakes and Natural Features

Mandalay is located along the Sagaing Fault. This is a boundary where two tectonic plates, the India and Sunda plates, meet. The biggest earthquake in its history happened on March 23, 1839. This earthquake, estimated at magnitude 8.2, destroyed the old capital of Ava and caused a lot of damage in nearby cities. The most recent large earthquake, with a magnitude of 7, occurred in 1956. This quake caused the most damage in nearby Sagaing and is known as the Great Sagaing Quake.

Near Mandalay, there is a small lake called Mandalay Kantawgyi. The Irrawaddy River is to the west of the city.

Mandalay's Weather: Climate Overview

Mandalay has a tropical wet and dry climate. This means it has distinct wet and dry seasons. It is also close to a hot semi-arid climate. The city experiences noticeably warmer and cooler times of the year.

In January, the coolest month, average temperatures are around 22°C (72°F). April is the hottest month, with average temperatures around 32°C (90°F). Mandalay can get very hot in April and May, with high temperatures often going above 37°C (99°F). It's not unusual for temperatures to reach over 40°C (104°F) during these two months.

The wet season in Mandalay runs from May through October, and the dry season covers the other six months. The highest temperature ever recorded in Mandalay was 48.0°C (118.4°F) on April 24, 1975. The lowest was 7.6°C (45.7°F) on December 26, 1999. There is a bigger difference between day and night temperatures in the dry season compared to the wet season.

Exploring Mandalay: Famous Places and Landmarks

Must-See Sights Around the City

Atumashi Monastery has been rebuilt to look just like the original.

• Atumashi Monastery: This monastery, whose name means "inimitable vihara" (a Buddhist monastery), is a well-known sight. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1890, but its stone base survived. A project to rebuild it started in 1995 and was finished in 1996.

• Buddha's Replica Tooth Relic Pagoda: A replica of one of Buddha's sacred tooth relics is kept in this pagoda. It is located on Maha Dhammayanthi Hill in Amarapura Township. People from Burma and Buddhist donors worldwide helped fund its construction. The pagoda's sacred golden umbrella and diamond bud were placed on top on December 13, 1996.

• Kuthodaw Pagoda (The World's Biggest Book): Built by King Mindon in 1857, this pagoda is like the Shwezigon Pagoda in Nyaung-U. It is surrounded by 729 stone slabs standing upright. Each slab has a part of the entire Tipiṭaka (Buddhist scriptures) carved into it. Because of these stone scriptures, it is often called the "World's largest book".

Kuthodaw Pagoda with some of its 729 stupas, known as the world's largest book.

• Kyauktawgyi Pagoda: This pagoda is near the southern entrance to Mandalay Hill. It holds a large Buddha image carved from a single huge block of marble. King Mindon built it between 1853 and 1878. Around the main image, there are statues of 80 arahants (enlightened disciples), with twenty on each side. The carving was completed in 1865.

• Mahamuni Buddha Temple: The image of Gautama Buddha at this temple is very special. It is believed to have been made during Buddha's lifetime, and that Buddha himself embraced it seven times, bringing it to life. Because of this, many devout Buddhists believe it is alive and call it the Mahamuni Sacred Living Image. It is considered the holiest pagoda in Mandalay. King Bodawpaya built it in 1784. The sitting image is 12 feet and 7 inches (3.8 meters) tall. Since the image was brought from Rakhine State, it was also called the Great Rakhine Buddha. Every morning, a ritual of washing the Buddha Image's face draws a large crowd of worshipers.

Mandalay Hill, 790 feet (240 meters) high, is home to many religious sites in Mandalay.

• Mandalay Hill: This hill has long been a sacred place. Legend says that Buddha visited the hill and predicted that a great city would be founded at its base. Mandalay Hill is 230 meters (755 feet) high and offers a great view of the city and the surrounding countryside. A road has been built to reach the top of the hill.

• Mandalay Palace: The entire palace complex was destroyed by fire during World War II. However, the palace walls, the city gates with their wooden pavilions, and the surrounding moat were rebuilt. A model of the Mandalay Palace, a building called Nanmyint-saung, and the Mandalay Cultural Museum are located inside the palace grounds.

Shwenandaw Monastery is famous for its wood carvings.

• Shwenandaw Monastery: This monastery is famous for its beautiful wood carvings. It was once part of the old palace. In 1880, King Thibaw moved it to its current location, near Atumashi Monastery.

• U Bein Bridge: This bridge is known as the oldest and once the longest teakwood bridge in the world. It was built when the capital of the Ava Kingdom moved to Amarapura.

U Bein Bridge at sunset.

• Yadanabon Zoological Gardens: This is a small zoo located between the Mandalay Palace and Mandalay Hill. It has over 300 different animal species. It is especially known for being the only zoo that has Burmese roofed turtles.

How Mandalay is Governed

Mandalay City Hall and MCDC Headquarter.

The Mandalay Region Government is in charge of the Mandalay Region, which includes Mandalay City. The Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) is the organization that manages the city's services. The Mandalay District is divided into seven smaller areas called townships:

• Amarapura
• Aungmyethazan
• Chanayethazan (this is the city center)
• Chanmyathazi
• Maha Aungmye
• Patheingyi
• Pyigyidagun

Getting Around: Transport in Mandalay

Mandalay is in a key location in Central Burma, making it an important center for moving people and goods. The city is connected to other parts of the country, as well as to China and India, through various types of transportation.

By Air: Mandalay's Airports

Mandalay International Airport.

Mandalay International Airport (MDL) was one of Myanmar's largest and most modern airports until Yangon International Airport was updated in 2008. It was built in 2000 at a cost of US$150 million. The airport is mostly used for flights within Myanmar. It also has daily international flights to Kunming in China, and to/from Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand. The airport is quite far from the city, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) away, connected by a modern highway. Before this airport was built, Mandalay Chanmyathazi Airport was the city's main airport. It still serves some flights to towns within Myanmar.

By River: Waterways for Trade

The Ayeyarwady River is still a very important route for transporting goods. These goods include farm products like rice, beans, and pulses, as well as cooking oil, pottery, bamboo, and teak wood.

By Train: Mandalay's Railway Connections

Mandalay Central Railway Station on 78th and 30th streets.

Mandalay Central Railway Station is the end point of Myanmar Railways' main rail line from Yangon. It is also the starting point for other lines that go to places like Pyin U Lwin, Lashio, Monywa, Pakokku, and further north to Myitkyina.

Mandalay also has a station on a standard gauge railway line that connects Kunming, China, to the Kyaukphyu port.

Mandalay does not have a metro rail system within the city. The old Trams in Mandalay are no longer in use.

By Road: Buses and Cars

Motor transportation in Burma can be expensive for most people because the government allows only a few thousand vehicles to be imported each year. Most people rely on bicycles, motorcycles, and public buses to get around. In the 2000s, a popular car in Mandalay was the 1982/83 Nissan Sunny pickup truck. These old models were still in high demand because they could be used as private buses or taxis.

In March 2008, Mandalay had almost 81,000 registered motor vehicles, plus many unregistered ones. Even though the number of cars is low for a city of one million, traffic can be very busy. Thousands of bicycles and motorbikes move freely across all lanes of the streets. Unlike in Yangon, where motorbikes and bicycles are not allowed in downtown areas, in Mandalay, almost anything goes. In 2018, as part of Mandalay's Smart City plans, new traffic lights with internet-connected sensors were installed to help manage traffic at intersections.

Who Lives in Mandalay? Understanding Demographics

In 2007, the UN estimated Mandalay's population to be almost 1 million. The city's population is expected to reach nearly 1.5 million by 2025. Mandalay has traditionally been a stronghold of Bamar (Burman) culture and people. However, a large number of ethnic Han Chinese have moved into the city over the last 20 years, which has changed the ethnic makeup. Today, ethnic Chinese people are believed to make up about 40%–50% of the city's population, almost the same as the native people. A significant community of Indian immigrants also lives in Mandalay.

Burmese is the main language spoken in the city. However, Chinese is increasingly heard in business areas as a second language. English is a third language, known by some people in the city.

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  The Yunnanese Buddhist Temple and Association in Mandalay is a major Chinese temple in the city.

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  Population of Mandalay in 2014.

Mandalay's Culture and Media

Cultural and Religious Heart

Buddha relics from Kanishka stupa in Peshawar, Pakistan, now in Mandalay.

Mandalay is Myanmar's cultural and religious center for Buddhism. It has many monasteries and over 700 pagodas. At the foot of Mandalay Hill is the world's official "Buddhist Bible", also known as the world's largest book, located at Kuthodaw Pagoda. The styles of Buddha images and statues in Mandalay are very distinct. King Mindon, who was a very religious Buddhist, filled Mandalay with these artworks. Over the years, Mandalay Buddhist art became known as the pure art of Myanmar. There are 729 stone slabs at Kuthodaw Pagoda, each with part of the entire Pāli Canon carved into it, and each slab is housed in its own white stupa.

The Mandalay Palace.

The buildings inside the old Mandalay city walls, surrounded by a moat, include the Mandalay Palace. Most of it was destroyed during World War II but has since been rebuilt as a replica. The area also includes a military prison and a military base, which is the headquarters of the Central Military Command.

Media in Mandalay

Most of the media in Mandalay, like in other parts of Burma, comes from Yangon. The city's non-satellite TV programming comes from state-run TV Myanmar and military-run Myawaddy, both based in Yangon. These channels provide news and entertainment in the Burmese language. Since December 2006, MRTV-4, which used to be a paid channel, has also been available in Mandalay.

Mandalay has two radio stations. The national radio service, Myanmar Radio National Service, broadcasts mostly in Burmese and sometimes in English. Mandalay City FM (87.9FM) is a station focused on popular culture for the Mandalay area.

The government controls all daily newspapers in Burma. It uses Mandalay to print and distribute its three national newspapers: the Burmese language Myanmar Alin and Kyemon, and the English language New Light of Myanmar. The state-run Yadanabon newspaper is published in Mandalay and serves the Upper Burma market. The Mandalay Daily newspaper has been published by the Mandalay City Development Committee since November 30, 1997.

Sports and Recreation in Mandalay

Mandalarthiri Sports Complex.

Mandalay's sports facilities are not as advanced as international standards, but they are the best in Upper Burma. The 17,000-seat Bahtoo Stadium was the largest in Upper Myanmar before the Mandalarthiri Stadium was built. It mainly hosts local and regional football and track-and-field events. Since May 2009, professional football has come to Mandalay, with Yadanabon FC representing the city in the new Myanmar National League, which is the country's first professional football league.

In 2013, a new stadium called Mandalarthiri Stadium was built. It hosted the Women's Football matches for the 27th SEA Games. This stadium became the largest in Mandalay and Upper Myanmar.

Sport Climbing Adventures

At Waterfall Hill, the first rock climbing site in Myanmar with bolted routes has been developed. This was done with the help of Mandalay climbers, led by Steve, Tylor, and the Technical Climbing Club of Myanmar, starting in 2010.

Mandalay's Economy: Business and Trade

Zaycho market, the biggest market in Mandalay.

Mandalay is a major center for trade and communication in Upper Myanmar. A lot of Burma's international trade with China and India passes through Mandalay.

Some of the city's main traditional industries include silk weaving, tapestry making, jade cutting and polishing, and carving stone and wood. People also make marble and bronze Buddha images, temple decorations, and religious items. Other crafts include working with gold leaf and silver, making matches, and brewing drinks.

Since Myanmar started to open up its economy after 1988, many Chinese people have moved to Mandalay looking for business opportunities. These new residents brought their skills, goods, services, and money. They also bought many shops and properties in the center of Mandalay, which changed the city's economy. This movement of people has helped Mandalay become a busy and successful business center.

Chinese businesses now own most of Mandalay's gold shops, mining permits, international businesses, and timber trading companies. In Central Mandalay, about 80 percent of gold and jewelry shops are owned by Chinese people. Many Chinese-owned businesses, such as trading groups, market stalls, restaurants, traditional Chinese medicine clinics, hotels, and real estate, have also grown. Buyers of jade and gems from other countries, especially Hong Kong, come to Mandalay.

Mandalay's economy and culture have been greatly influenced by Chinese businesses. More than 50 percent of the commercial activity in Downtown Mandalay comes from Chinese-owned shops, hotels, restaurants, and showrooms. About 80 percent of the hotels and guesthouses, over 70 percent of the restaurants, more than 45 percent of gold and jewelry shops, about 30 percent of jade and gemstone trading, and almost all of the sales centers for goods made in mainland China are owned and run by Chinese people. Chinese business owners and investors have bought many of Mandalay's key businesses and properties. They have played a very big role in creating much of the city's business activity, even though they are a smaller part of the population.

Wealthy Chinese business people and investors have bought prime residential and commercial properties in central Mandalay. As many as half of the city's residents have Chinese family backgrounds. Seven out of the top ten business owners in Mandalay are of Chinese descent, controlling 60 percent of the city's entire economy. About 50 percent of the land in Downtown Mandalay is controlled by Chinese people. Also, all of Mandalay's shopping malls and hotels were built by Chinese-owned construction and real estate companies. The strong influence of mainland China is felt throughout the city, with locals sometimes calling Mandalay a "Chinese city."

Most new immigrants from China move to Mandalay for business and do not plan to stay permanently. They often rely on Chinese people already living in Mandalay to help them understand the local business environment. These "new Chinese" tend to settle outside the city center because the older Chinese areas are too expensive. These new areas then become new Chinese neighborhoods. Sometimes, there are tensions between local Burmese people and Chinese businesspeople due to different cultural attitudes.

Another major industry in Mandalay is sports, especially soccer, which is very popular in the country. The Burmese soccer club, Yadanabon FC, represents the city in the Myanmar National League, which is the nation's first professional soccer league.

Learning in Mandalay: Education Centers

University of Mandalay.

Mandalay has some of the best educational facilities and institutions in Burma, second only to Yangon. However, the country's spending on education is among the lowest in the world. In poorer areas, students often drop out of middle school because schools have to rely on "donations" and fees from parents for almost everything, from school maintenance to teacher salaries.

For students who cannot afford to study abroad, Mandalay offers the best higher education institutions in Upper Burma. There are over 15 universities in the city. Some of the nation's most selective universities are in Mandalay, including the University of Mandalay, the University of Medicine, Mandalay, the University of Dental Medicine, Mandalay, the Mandalay Technological University, and the University of Computer Studies, Mandalay.

Mandalay's Sister Cities

Mandalay is twinned with these cities:

• Cirebon, Indonesia
• Kunming, China
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Ulsan, South Korea

Notable People from Mandalay

• Saw Maung (1928–1997), a Burmese general and former chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council.
• Oo Zun (1868–1944), a social worker and Buddhist nun.
• Zwe Ohn Chein (1910–1979), a Burmese inventor, writer, and teacher.

Images for kids

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  Mandalay Hill

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  Moat around the palace

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  Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery in Inwa

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  Mandalay Palace Watch Tower

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  The Palace of Mirrors (Hmannan) inside Mandalay Palace

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  Great Audience Hall in Mandalay Palace

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  Shwe Kyaung, a famous monastery

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  Mandalay early Thingyan Festival

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  Opening Ceremony of Myanmar Thingyan Festival in front of the City Hall

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  Kuthodaw Pagoda and Sandar Muni Pagoda

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  A Mandalayan girl

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  Now defunct old Sagaing Bridge

See also

In Spanish: Mandalay (Birmania) para niños