The government may have moved to the new capital Nay Pyi Taw in 2005, but Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon) remains the cultural and commercial heart of Myanmar, and most visitors begin and end their journey to the country here. Yangon is a huge city, by far the biggest in Myanmar, and its ramshackle charms deserve at least a few days exploration.
Yangon had itself only been the capital since 1885, when the British conquered northern Myanmar and moved the seat of government from Mandalay. However, as they had long held the city as a key trading post, Yangon's has a wonderful array of colonial-era buildings - many of which are now crumbling, hidden down side streets. But the biggest concentration is on the riverfront Strand Road, around the bottom of Pansodan Street and Sule Pagoda Road.