Yangon, which until 1989 was known as Rangoon, is the capital of Myanmar (Burma). It lies in the fertile delta in the South of Myanmar, around 30 km from the sea by the wide Yangon River. The city differs markedly from other Asian cities of a similar size in that it has a lot of trees: this means that some areas of the city seem almost forest-like, so that one might almost forget that Yangon has a population of 4 million. The landmark of this exotic metropolis is the golden Shvedagon pagoda, a Buddhist sanctuary dating from the 18th century that stands 112 m high. Located on a hill, it dominates the image of the city and was described by Kipling as a "shimmering wonder". Highly symbolic sites that featured in the movement for democracy are the Martyr's Mausoleum and the house of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Other sights include: the colonial architecture of the legendary beach hotel and the reclining Buddha in the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda.
