Myanmar’s former capital, Yangon, boasts one of the most spectacular early-20th century urban landscapes in Asia.
A century ago the country’s former capital was one of the world's great trading cities and the legacy of that cosmopolitan past remains today.
Saved from the fate of other Asian cities due to the country's isolation under military rule, Yangon’s downtown area is a unique blend of cultural and imperial architecture, considered to be the last surviving "colonial core" in Asia.
But as the country opens up, this unique heritage is under threat. Decades of neglect have left once grand buildings a crumbling mess and they are at grave risk of being demolished in favour of hastily built towers and condominiums.
Some of the damage has already been done as developers race to cash in on the country’s rapid pace of change.
Myanmar historian and scholar, Thant Myint U, is leading the charge to preserve Yangon’s heritage and return many buildings to their former glory.
He has founded the Yangon Heritage Trust, a group pushing for a cohesive urban plan for the city. The stories of the buildings and the people who lived - and still live in them today, are truly unique in the world.
101 East was granted rare access inside the famous Secretariat building, the site of Myanmar's independence ceremony in 1948 and the assassination of national hero, General Aung San, the father of pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi.
This immense building, which housed the parliament from 1948-1962 has been closed to the public behind razor wire for more than half a century and few have ever seen inside it. Its greatest challenge may yet be surviving the modern era as Yangon embarks on its dramatic transition into a modern Asian city.
More from 101 East on:
KZhead - aje.io/101eastKZhead
Facebook - / 101east
Twitter - / aj101east
Instagram - / aj101east
Website - aljazeera.com/101east
#AlJazeeraEnglish #101East #Restoring Rangoon
Takes me back to my childhood in Burma 1954 - 1966, beautiful memories of Kawndagyi Lake across the street from my home.
Why do you exist?
Wow!! Yangon reminds me of Kolkata, especially the colonial buildings. We too are facing the similar issues in restoring our colonial heritage. I think both cities must work together in this issue.
great colonial structures of my Rangoon, relaxes me going into the streets of my childhood in Burma 1958 to 1964 via You Tube, recollecting the reminiscences fragrance of Beautiful Burma
As a heritage professional from outside the country I am impressed by the great array of colonial era heritage buildings, and equally impressed that there are many locals who appreciate them as well, and are working hard to preserve them. I just hope that they can succeed and prevent the downtown heritage being demolished or lost in a sea of mediocre high-rise in a rush to extract maximum profit. Smart planning can preserve teh best of the past, and allow for new development.
13:27 That's a sound you'll definitely hear everyday in Yangon.
Born &broughtup in Rangoon. Left in 1962.Visited last year. Still remember the Royal lake,kokayin lake.Our school Bengal academy on Dalhousie street now Mahabandoola road.
18:18 (R.I.P)U ko ni we miss you.Ur our hero.
i went there 25 years ago some of these old buildings are great it would be fantastic if they could be saved then rangoon wouldnt become just another boring clone city
Great documentary
if is not because of world war 2 Philippines capital manila would have remained its vast colonial architecture from the 333 years conialization of Spain and 50 years that of the United States, sad to say much of was destroyed :( but thanks for the coscern citizen they are slowly rebuilding those architecture back to its former glory too :) thanks for all the the people conserving national treasures all over the world, I really love looking at the past :) I love history :)
A legacy that will lost in time if not restored...
this edition, this documentary is so well done, really so affectionately informative....thanks!
Forever I am apoud of our Country
before to late , we need to save yangon downtown,, we can build hight building outside of yangon downtown ,example dala city , inn sine , ma yan gone , dagon north , shew pyi ther or hlaing ther ya , so we can build hight building alittle outside downtown yangon wil ,,, it do like this wil yangon the most beautifull city in south-east asian ,,,really .
miss that ol rang
good points..
Nico Elliot has as much right to criticize as any other citizen. The world has moved on from clinching ethnicity to nation. Elliot is part of Burmese society, and has a right to point out what can be made better. That's a sign of patriotism, not unpatriotic. Imagine if immigrants in the UK or the US would be banned or criticized from contributing to the public discourse. That's a sign of a weak political maturity.
It would be stupid of them to let the buildings crumble down. Nothing more intelligent than preserving and making money from them today,
My goodness U Ko Ni was still alive here
I have been the Project Architect of the whole Secretariat Project from 2015 to 2017
Do you have a channel where the restoration process is documented?
@@blueyomogi hi, no, only private documentation of a standarized construction project. Cheers
This is basically: "I like this! No, i like this!", type of argument.
7 years agoooooooii
*Research: **6:26** what is the name of that old departmental store? Bangkok-Johnnie*
That is not a problem as long as what he is seeking is not something that will benefit ONLY himself. I see myself as a global citizen. But I live here in Norway where I have invested money. I expect to influence public policy on behalf of businessmen like myself, while at the same time contributing to society. A free society can only benefit from rational criticism that's based on facts and for the betterment of a country for all.
it will be like PHNOM PENH
i thought the british designed and built rangoon so where did the name yangon come from its like calling london yondon
Yangon was founded as "Dagon" in the early 11th century (1028-1043) by the Mon people. In 1755, Burmese King Alaungpaya, captured Dagon, and changed the name to "Yangon" (End-of-strife). The British captured Yangon in the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852, and spelt the name as "Rangoon" and made it the capital of British Burma. So, I guess the Brits mispronounced Yangon and it became Rangoon. As for London, you may want to call it Londinium, the original name given by the Romans when they built it in 47 AD.
hair in lens..hehe..edit please
Except he is not an immigrant, he is a person who will run back to jolly ole England when he makes enough money.
colonial buildings are a symbol of foreign oppression... what on earth are they thinking. who is funding these people to talk this way? Myanmar heritage remains in the north like Bagan, Mandalay and Sagaing.
I see the indians have taken Burmese name now.
They are born and bred Burmese but are of Indian ethnicity.
Yes, Mr.Elliot , with his 1% Attitude.... is a complete bore........