The best sunset in Southeast Asia (Part 1)

From a travel perspective, no city in Myanmar is more irreplaceable than Mandalay, not even Yangon, the former capital and the largest city in Myanmar. Mandalay is located in the interior of Myanmar. Before the rise of Naypyidaw, Mandalay was the largest city closest to the geographical center of Myanmar. Mandalay was the capital of the last dynasty of Myanmar. Before the independence of modern Myanmar in 1948, Mandalay was the cultural center and national sovereignty symbol of Myanmar, a British colony. It has also been a sacred place for Buddhists for centuries. Mandalay does not have as many temples and pagodas as Bagan, but it is famous for its magnificent temples and pagodas, such as the ancient Shwezigon Pagoda and the Mahamuni Buddha Temple, which enshrines the Mahamuni Buddha covered with gold foil. There are eight temples along the 1,000 steps up Mandalay Hill, which is the origin of the city's name. In the eyes of travelers, Mandalay is not an isolated city, but a base for traveling in central Myanmar. Outside Mandalay, there are several ancient and interesting small towns. Mingun, Sagaing, and Inwa, which are included in popular tourist routes, are ancient capitals of Myanmar that are older than Mandalay, but most tourists are more interested in Amarapura. Amarapura is also an ancient capital, but only slightly older than Mandalay. This small town with a population of 20,000, located south of Mandalay, was the capital twice in history, the first time for only 40 years and the second time for less than 70 years. The former palace buildings were dismantled by King Mindon and moved to Mandalay, leaving only the Taungthaman Lake, which changes with the seasons. Now, Amarapura impresses tourists with a temple and a bridge.