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Myitkyina

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Myitkyina is the capital city of Kachin State in Myanmar.

Kachinstateparliament
Kachinstateparliament

It sits on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River. The name Myitkyina means "near the big river." The city is located just downstream from where two rivers meet. These two rivers are called the Mali and the N'mai. Myitkyina is a very important place for travel in the north. It is the northernmost river port in all of Myanmar. It is also the place where the railway line ends.

Train Station, Myitkyina
Train Station, Myitkyina

Traveling to the city can happen in several ways. People can fly into Myitkyina Airport to reach the city. The railway has been used for 100 years to move goods. It takes almost 24 hours to ride the train from Mandalay. Many farmers and traders use this path to move their items. The city also connects to other places by bus and car. One famous road nearby is the Ledo Road. This road was built by the British long ago.

Train Station, Myitkyina
Train Station, Myitkyina

This area has a long and busy history. It has been a place for trading since ancient times. People traded goods between China and Myanmar here. In the late 1890s, missionaries named George J. Geis arrived in the town. Later, a man named Herman Tegenfeldt built a church there. During World War II, Japanese forces captured the town in 1942. Allied forces fought to take it back in 1944. This fighting was part of a long and hard siege.

Kachinstateparliament
Kachinstateparliament

About 150,000 people live in Myitkyina today. The people come from many different groups. You will find Kachin, Shan, Bamar, and Burmese Gorkha people there. Some residents are also Chinese or Indian. Most people speak Burmese, which is the national language. However, many also speak Kachin or English. The city is also a center for business and nature. People find jade, gold, and amber in the region. In 2010 and 2011, nearly US$2 billion in jade was exported each year.

Learning is a big part of life in the city. There are many different types of schools for students. You can study at Myitkyina University or a teacher's college. There are also schools for nursing and computer studies.

Kachinland School of Arts & Sciences
Kachinland School of Arts & Sciences

Some schools are connected to groups in the United States. The city also has several large hospitals to help people. The weather stays warm throughout the whole year. The summer is wet and the winter is dry. During the monsoon season, the air feels very fresh.

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File:Kachinland School of Arts & Sciences.jpg
Kachinland School of Arts & Sciences.jpg
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