Downtown Yangon

Last updated
Downtown Yangon
ရန်ကုန်မြို့လယ်
Yangon Central Business District
Neighborhood of the City of Yangon
Yangon at night.jpg
Downtown skyline during sunset, April 2010.
Nickname: 
Downtown Yangon
Coordinates: 16°46′38″N96°09′40″E / 16.777098°N 96.161113°E / 16.777098; 96.161113 Coordinates: 16°46′38″N96°09′40″E / 16.777098°N 96.161113°E / 16.777098; 96.161113
CountryMyanmar
DivisionYangon
City City of Yangon
Government
 •  Mayor Maung Maung Soe
Area
 • Total5.305 sq mi (8.538 km2)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total>6,000,000
Website http://www.yangoncity.com.mm

Downtown Yangon (also known as the Yangon Central Business District or Yangon CBD; formerly the Cantonment) is the central business district of Yangon, Myanmar, located close to the geographic centre of the metropolitan area. The area features many of the city's major arts institutions and sports facilities.

Contents

History

A view of the Cantonment Gardens (now Kantawmin Park) in 1868. Public Gardens, Rangoon.jpg
A view of the Cantonment Gardens (now Kantawmin Park) in 1868.

The east-west grid of downtown Yangon was laid out by British military engineers Alexander Fraser and Montgomerie after the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. [1] The city was later developed by the Public Works Department and Bengal Corps of Engineers.

The majority of sites on the Yangon City Heritage List are located in Yangon's CBD.

Architecture

Yangon's CBD is known for its leafy avenues and fin-de-siècle architecture. [2] The former British colonial capital has the highest number of colonial period buildings in Southeast Asia. [3] The CBD is still mainly made up of decaying colonial buildings. The former High Court, the former Secretariat buildings, the former St. Paul's English High School and the Strand Hotel are excellent examples of the bygone era. Most buildings in the CBD from this era are four-story mix-use (residential and commercial) buildings with 14-foot (4.3 m) ceilings, allowing for the construction of mezzanines. Despite their less-than-perfect conditions, the buildings remain highly sought after and most expensive in the city's property market. [4]

In 1996, the Yangon City Development Committee created a Yangon City Heritage List of old buildings and structures in the city that cannot be modified or torn down without approval. [5] In 2012, the city of Yangon imposed a 50-year moratorium on demolition of buildings older than 50 years. [6] [7] The Yangon Heritage Trust, an NGO started by Thant Myint-U, aims to create heritage areas in Downtown, and attract investors to renovate buildings for commercial use. [7]

Boundaries

Geographically, the CBD is bounded by the Pun Hlaing River to the west, the Hlaing River to the south and Pazundaung Creek to the east. [8]

Transportation

The pattern of south to north roads is as follows: one broad 100-foot (30 m) wide broad road, two narrow streets, one mid-size street, two more narrow streets, and then another 100-foot (30 m) wide broad road. This order is repeated from west to east. The narrow streets are numbered; the medium and broad roads are named.

For instance, the 100-foot (30 m) Lanmadaw Road is followed by 30-foot (9.1 m)-wide 17th and 18th streets then the medium 50-foot (15 m) Sint-Oh-Dan Road, the 30-foot 19th and 20th streets, followed by another 100-foot (30 m) wide Latha Road, followed again by the two numbered small roads 21st and 22nd streets, and so on.

The roads running parallel west to east were the Strand Road, Merchant Road, Maha Bandula (née Dalhousie) Road, Anawrahta (Fraser) Road, and Bogyoke Aung San (Montgomerie) Road.

The CBD's road layout follows a grid pattern, based on four types of roads:

Since February 2010, pickup truck bus lines have been forbidden to run in 6 townships of the CBD, namely Latha, Lanmadaw, Pabedan, Kyauktada, Botahtaung and Pazundaung Townships. [9] In May 2003, a ban on using car horns was implemented in six townships of The CBD to reduce noise pollution. [10] In April 2004, the car horn ban was expanded to cover the entire city. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yangon</span> Largest City in Yangon Region, Myanmar

Yangon, formerly spelled as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon served as the capital of Myanmar until 2006, when the military government relocated the administrative functions to the purpose-built capital city of Naypyidaw in north central Myanmar. With over 7 million people, Yangon is Myanmar's most populous city and its most important commercial centre.

Lanmadaw Township is located in the western part of downtown Yangon, and shares borders with Ahlon Township in the west, Latha Township in the east, Seikkan Township and Yangon River in the south, and Dagon Township in the north. It consists of twelve wards and is home to five primary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Lanmadaw and Latha townships make up the Yangon Chinatown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dagon Township</span> Township of Yangon in Myanmar

Dagon Township is located immediately north of downtown Yangon. The township comprises five wards, and shares borders with Bahan Township in the north, Ahlon Township in the west, Mingala Taungnyunt Township in the east, and Lanmadaw Township, Latha Township and Pabedan Township in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyauktada Township</span> Township of Yangon in Myanmar

Kyauktada Township is the center of downtown Yangon, Myanmar. The township consists of nine wards, and shares borders with Botataung Township in the east, Seikkan Township and Yangon River in the south, Pabedan Township in the west and Mingala Taungnyunt Township in the north.

Latha Township is located in the western part of downtown Yangon, and shares borders with Lanmadaw township in the west, Pabedan township in the east, Seikkan township and Yangon river in the south, and Dagon township in the north. It consists of ten wards and is home to three primary schools, one middle school and two high schools. Lanmadaw and Latha Townships make up the Yangon Chinatown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pabedan Township</span> Township of Yangon in Myanmar

Pabedan Township is located in the center of downtown Yangon, Myanmar. The township is home to Bogyoke Aung San Market and Theingyi Market, two of the largest shopping centers in all of Yangon. The township consists of eleven wards, and shares borders with Kyauktada township in the east, Seikkan township and Yangon river in the south, Latha township in the west and Dagon township in the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botataung Township</span> Township of Yangon in Yangon Region, Myanmar

Botataung Township is an area of Yangon, Myanmar. Named after the Botahtaung Pagoda, the township consists of ten wards, and shares borders with Pazundaung Township is in the north and the east, Seikkan Township and Yangon River in the south, Kyauktada Township in the west and Mingala Taungnyunt township in the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamayut Township</span> Township of Yangon in Myanmar

Kamayut Township is located in the north central part of Yangon. The township comprises ten wards, and shares borders with Hlaing township in the north, Hlaing township and Kyimyindaing township in the west, the Inya Lake, Bahan township and Mayangon township in the east, and Sanchaung township in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pazundaung Township</span> Township of Yangon in Myanmar

Pazundaung Township is a township located in the southeastern part of Yangon, Myanmar. The township consists of ten wards, and shares borders with Botataung Township in the west and the south, Mingala Taungnyunt Township in the northwest, Thaketa Township in the north and the Pazundaung Creek in the east. Pazundaung is connected to Dawbon Township across the Maha Bandula Bridge. The township has nine primary schools, three middle schools and four high schools as well as a hospital. Pazundaung Market and Yegyaw Market are the main shopping bazaars of the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahlon Township</span> Township of Yangon in Myanmar

Ahlone Township is located in the western part of Yangon. The township comprises eleven wards, and shares borders with Sanchaung township and Kyimyindaing township in the north, the Yangon river in the west, Dagon township in the east, and Lanmadaw township in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministers' Building</span> Historic site in Yangon Region, Myanmar

The Ministers' Building was the home and administrative seat of British Burma, in downtown Yangon, Burma and is the spot where Aung San and six cabinet ministers were assassinated. The British administration moved the office from Strand Road after administrative work increased greatly resulting in an urgent need to expand the cramped and poorly lit administration building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strand Road, Yangon</span>

Strand Road is a major road in downtown Yangon, Burma. It crosses the city in a west–east direction and runs parallel to the Yangon River. It contains many important government buildings, including the Ministry of Trade building, court and the British embassy. It also contains the 5-star hotel, Strand Hotel, built in 1901.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hmawbi Township</span> Township in Yangon, Myanmar

Yangon Region Hmawbi Township is a township in the Yangon Region of Myanmar (Burma). It is located northwest of the city of Yangon. The principal town and administrative seat is Hmawbi. The Hmawbi airport is at Indan (Inntan), 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) northeast of the town of Hmawbi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of the United States, Yangon</span>

The Embassy of the United States in Yangon represents the official diplomatic mission of the American government in Myanmar (Burma), provides assistance to American citizens and issues visas to foreign nationals, for the purposes of visiting and immigration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yangon Chinatown</span>

The Chinatown of Yangon or so called Tayoke Tan lies west of the Sule Pagoda which is located in the centre of Downtown Yangon. 19th Street, Yangon is the main centre of the city's Chinatown.

Yangon Tram begun service on a single tram line on 11 January 2016. Yangon previously had a tramway network which closed down during World War II. Funded by Japanese investment, the tram line service at Strand Road terminates between Wardan Jetty and Linsadaung, Botataung Township, a journey of around 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) using a single 50-year old tram from Hiroshima Electric Railway in Hiroshima, Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd Street, Yangon</span> Street in Yangon, Myanmar

32nd Street is a narrow north-to-south street located in Pabedan Township and adjacent to Sule Pagoda Road in Yangon, Myanmar. Generally the street is divided into 3 blocks, similar to other streets in downtown Yangon. The street's major divisions include the Upper Block, the Middle Block, and the combination of the two blocks between Merchant Road and Bandoola Road, and between Merchant Road and Strand Road, collectively called the Lower Blocks. The street is located near the Clover City Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theingyi Market</span>

Theingyi Market is the largest traditional market in downtown Yangon, Myanmar (Burma). The present-day Theingyi Market complex houses 1,156 wet and dry market shops. The market spans Latha and Pabedan Townships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Yangon District</span>

West Yangon District is a district of the Yangon Region in Myanmar.

Yoma Central is a major mixed-use development project in Downtown Yangon, Myanmar, located at the intersection of Bogyoke Aung San Road and Sule Pagoda Road, beside Bogyoke Aung San Market. The development entails a number of buildings, including the historic Myanma Railway headquarters first built in 1877, two new office towers, luxury residencies, and a business hotel. The development will eventually encompass 2,440,000 square feet (227,000 m2). Groundbreaking was held on 16 January 2017.

References

  1. ↑ Falconer, John; et al. (2001). Burmese Design & Architecture. Hong Kong: Periplus. ISBN   962-593-882-6.
  2. ↑ Tom Wright (2009-01-23). "Asia's Lost Treasure Trove". WSJ Weekend Journal. The Wall Street Journal.
  3. ↑ Martin, Steven (2004-03-30). "Burma maintains bygone buildings". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-05-22.
  4. ↑ Htar Htar Khin (2008-12-15). "Demand for downtown's golden oldies still strong". The Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 2012-02-14.
  5. ↑ Kennedy, Phoebe (20 February 2011). "Colonial past could be the saving of Rangoon". The Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Kean, Thomas (19 March 2012). "Historic Yangon cityscape thrown a lifeline". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  7. 1 2 Robinson, Gwen (9 March 2012). "Myanmar pushes to save colonial buildings". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  8. ↑ "Industry backs 30-year Yangon master plan". Myanmar Times. 9 April 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  9. ↑ Nay Nwe Moe Aung (24 February 2010). "Authorities ban light truck buses in downtown areas". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  10. 1 2 Shwe Yinn Mar Oo (10 December 2007). "Vehicle horn penalties increased". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.