Kengtung

Kengtung
Kyaingtong
Town
Kengtung
Location in Myanmar
Coordinates: 21°17′30″N 99°36′30″E / 21.29167°N 99.60833°E / 21.29167; 99.60833Coordinates: 21°17′30″N 99°36′30″E / 21.29167°N 99.60833°E / 21.29167; 99.60833
Country  Myanmar
Region  Shan State
District Kengtung District
Township Kengtung Township
Area
 • Total 3,506 km2 (1,354 sq mi)
Population (2014)[1]
 • Total 171,620
 • Density 48.955/km2 (126.79/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+6.30 (MMT)

Kengtung (Shan: ၵဵင်းတုင်; Burmese: ကျိုင်းတုံမြို့; MLCTS: kyuing: tum mrui., pronounced [tɕáɪɴtòʊɴ mjo̰]; Thai: เชียงตุง, RTGS: Chiang Tung, pronounced [t͡ɕʰīa̯ŋ tūŋ]; also spelled Kyaingtong, Chiang Tung, Cheingtung, and Kengtong) is a town in Shan State, Myanmar (formerly Burma). It is the principal town of Kengtung Township. Kengtung is located on the National Highway 4 (NH4) and at the AH2 and AH3 of the Asian Highway.

History

Kengtung town

The early history of Kengtung is made up of myths and legends. The oral tradition of the Wa people says that the ancient city of Kengtung was founded in the distant past by them as the original inhabitants of the region,[2] and was later reestablished by the grandson of King Mangrai after defeating the Wa.[3] This migration of the Chiang Mai dynasty in the 13th century, with the founding a new kingdom which was later named Lanna, has resulted in Kengtung having a different type of Tai population from the rest of the Shan State, the Tai Khün.

Kengtung, like other major towns in the Shan Plateau, was home to a Shan Saopha (Sawbwa). Kengtung was the capital of the Kengtung State, and had a palace, built by Sao Kawng Kiao Intaleng in 1905.

The city was occupied by the Thai Phayap Army from 1942 until the end of the Second World War and became the headquarters of the Saharat Thai Doem territory.[4]Now, the headquarters of the regional military command of the Tatmadaw is in the town.[5]

Geography

Kengtung contains several lakes. The largest, Naung Tung Lake, lies in the western part of the city, followed by Naung Kham Lake and Naung Yarng Lake to the south of the Kentung Roman Catholic Mission.

Transportation

The town is served by Kengtung Airport.

Kengtung is located on the National Highway 4 (NH4) and at the AH2 and AH3 of the Asian Highway.

Climate

Kengtung has a tropical wet and dry/ savanna climate (Köppen-Geiger classification: Aw) with a pronounced dry season in the low-sun months, no cold season, wet season is in the high-sun months. Temperatures are very warm throughout the year, although the winter months (December–February) are milder and nights can be quite cool. There is a winter dry season (December–April) and a summer wet season (May–November).

Climate data for Kengtung
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 26.7
(80.1)		 29.2
(84.6)		 32.0
(89.6)		 33.0
(91.4)		 32.3
(90.1)		 30.4
(86.7)		 29.6
(85.3)		 29.4
(84.9)		 29.6
(85.3)		 28.7
(83.7)		 27.2
(81)		 25.7
(78.3)		 29.5
(85.1)
Average low °C (°F) 9.6
(49.3)		 10.8
(51.4)		 14.0
(57.2)		 18.2
(64.8)		 21.2
(70.2)		 22.1
(71.8)		 21.7
(71.1)		 21.5
(70.7)		 20.6
(69.1)		 18.6
(65.5)		 15.2
(59.4)		 11.0
(51.8)		 17
(62.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 16.0
(0.63)		 8.0
(0.315)		 16.0
(0.63)		 43.0
(1.693)		 160.0
(6.299)		 175.0
(6.89)		 236.0
(9.291)		 243.0
(9.567)		 171.0
(6.732)		 128.0
(5.039)		 79.0
(3.11)		 23.0
(0.906)		 1,298
(51.102)
Source: HKO (1961-1990)[6]

Education

Health care

  • Kyaing Tong General Hospital

See also

Bibliography

  • Forbes, Andrew ; Henley, David (2011). Traders of the Golden Triangle. Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. ASIN: B006GMID5
  • J. G. Scott, Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States. 5 vols. Rangoon, 1900-1901.
  • Sao Sāimöng Mangrāi, The Pādaeng Chronicle and the Kengtung State Chronicle Translated. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1981

References

  1. ↑ Myanmar City Population
  2. ↑ M. Fiskesjo, On the Ethnoarchaeology of Fortified Settlements in the Northern part of Mainland Southeast Asia
  3. ↑ History
  4. ↑ Shan and Karenni States of Burma
  5. ↑ Donald M. Seekins, Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar), p. 251
  6. ↑ "Climatological Information for Kengtung, Myanmar". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
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