Shan State, commonly known by its native name Muang Tai, as well as Shanland is a state of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Shan State borders China (Yunnan) to the north, Laos to the east, and Thailand to the south, and five administrative divisions of Burma (Myanmar) in the west. The largest of the 14 administrative divisions by land area, Shan State covers 155,800 km2, almost a quarter of the total area of Burma. The state gets its name from Burmese name for the Tai people: "Shan people". The Shan constitute the majority among several ethnic groups that inhabit the area. Shanland is largely rural, with only three cities of significant size: Lashio, Kengtung, and the capital, Taunggyi. Taunggyi is 150.7 km northeast of the nation's capital Naypyitaw.
Wa State is an autonomous region within Myanmar (Burma). It is de facto independent from the rest of the country and has its own political system, administrative divisions and army. However, Wa State recognises Myanmar's sovereignty over all of its territory, and has, in return, been granted a high level of autonomy by the central government in Naypyidaw. Under the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar the region is designated as the Wa Self-Administered Division of Shan State. As a one-party socialist state ruled by the United Wa State Party, Wa State is divided into three counties, two special districts, and one economic development zone. The administrative capital is Pangkham, formerly known as Panghsang. The name Wa is derived from the Wa ethnic group, who speak an Austroasiatic language.
Mong Hsat is a town in the Shan State of Myanmar, the capital of Mong Hsat Township. It is served by Monghsat Airport.
Loilem is a town in the Shan State of central-eastern Burma. It is the principal town in Loilem Township in Loilem District.
Katha is a town in Sagaing Region, Myanmar, on the west side of the Irrawaddy River on a bluff with an average elevation of 124 m (407 ft). Most of the town is more than 10 m (33 ft) above the river. Katha is known for having inspired Kyauktada, the fictional setting of George Orwell's Burmese Days.
Insurgencies have been ongoing in Myanmar since 1948, the year the country, then known as Burma, gained independence from the United Kingdom. The conflict has largely been ethnic-based, with several ethnic armed groups fighting Myanmar's armed forces, the Tatmadaw, for self-determination. Despite numerous ceasefires and the creation of autonomous self-administered zones in 2008, many groups continue to call for independence, increased autonomy, or the federalisation of the country. The conflict is the world's longest ongoing civil war, having spanned more than seven decades.
Pinlaung Township is a township of Taunggyi District in the Shan State of Myanmar. It is one of three townships in the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone. Its principal town is Pinlaung. According to the 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census, there are 115,047 residents in the township.
Kyethi Township is a township of Loilem District in the Shan State of Burma. The main town is Kesi.
Kutkai Township is a township of Muse District in the Shan State of eastern Burma. The principal town is Kutkai.
Loilem District is a district of the Shan State in Myanmar. It consists of 9 towns in 2010. Its capital is Loilem.
Muse (Burmese: မူဆယ်မြို့; MLCTS: mu hcai mrui. is the capital town of Mu Se Township in northern Shan State, Myanmar. It is situated on the Shweli River, and is connected by a bridge and road to Ruili in Yunnan Province, China.
Namhkam, also spelled Nam Kham is the principal town of Namhkam Township in northern Shan State, Myanmar, situated on the southern bank of the Shweli River near the border with Yunnan Province, China.
Pinlaung is a town 1,510 metres (4,950 ft) above sea level and seat of Pinlaung Township, in the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone of Shan State of eastern-central Burma. It lies along National Road 54, north-west by road from Loikaw. Running through the city center is a rail line connecting Loikaw to Kalaw, two major tourist towns in the area.
Technological University (Panglong) is located on Loilem-Nansang main road in Loilem District, Shan State, Myanmar.
Lai-Hka (ဝဵင်းလၢႆးၶႃႈ) is a town of Lai-Hka District in the Shan State of Myanmar. It is the capital of Lai-Hka Township.
Panglong is a town in Loilem Township of Loilem District, southern Shan State, Myanmar. The town is also home to Panglong University.
Namhkam Township is a township of Mu Se District in the Shan State of eastern Myanmar. The principal town is Namhkam, a few miles away from Mu Se.
The Ta'ang National Liberation Army in Myanmar (Burma), is the armed wing of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF).
The Muse offensive, also known as the Mong Ko offensive, was a joint military operation by members of the Northern Alliance, which consists of the Arakan Army (AA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The groups targeted towns and border posts along the China–Myanmar border in Muse Township, Myanmar.
Lotus silk is a type of textile produced using delicate lotus stem fibers. The fabric first originated in Myanmar (Burma), and is now also woven by smaller-scale cottage industries in Vietnam. Due to the complexity and labor-intensive nature of weaving lotus fibers, lotus silk is considered one of the most expensive fabrics in the world.
Myanmar 
