Yangon–Mandalay Expressway Yangon–Mandalay Expressway The Yangon–Mandalay Expressway () is an expressway in Myanmar (Burma) that connects the country's largest city Yangon and second largest city Mandalay. Opened in December 2010, the expressway has reduced the travel time between Yangon and Mandalay to 7 hours from 13 hours by train and from 16 hours by the old highway. The highway, which does not meet international design, construction and safety standards has seen a spate of accidents since its opening. The initial plans to build a highway between the two largest cities of the country were conceived in 1954 as part of the U
Yangon spacious parks and lakes and mix of modern buildings and traditional wooden architecture, was known as "the garden city of the East." By the early 20th century, Yangon had public services and infrastructure on par with London. Before World War II, about 55% of Yangon's population of 500,000 was Indian or South Asian, and only about a third was Bamar (Burman). Karens, the Chinese, the Anglo-Burmese and others made up the rest. After World War I, Yangon became the epicentre of Burmese independence movement, with leftist Rangoon University students leading the way. Three nationwide strikes against the British Empire in