Shan State, located in the North-East of the Union of Myanmar, is situated on a large expanse of the Shan plateau. Its area is 60,155 sq miles and the population is about 5 millions.

Moreover, the Union of Myanmar has a close relationship with its neighboring countries such as Thailand, Laos and China.

Shan State is rich in natural resources such as greenish and lush monsoon forests, hilly forests, high hills and mountain ranges, rivers, creeks, ponds and huge valleys and plains.

A significant characteristic of this region is that the national races who reside here are spread all over the State. They always wear colourful clothes, decorated with beautiful ornaments.

Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, is 4,712 ft above sea-level. It is a suitable place for people to reside due to its greening forests, beautiful and colorful flowers. The main attractions for local and foreign visitors to the Shan State are that this state has a temperate climate all the year round, its ancient edifices, beautiful pine trees and it is the place for trading and selling goods from other regions and the traditional Taunggyi balloon festival.

Innlay Lake, 19 miles from the west of Taunggyi, is the most distinctive and beautiful lake in Myanmar and it has many attractive places for tourists. Innthars, living around the Innlay Lake, have their own traditions and culture. They are the only persons in the world who row their boats with their legs. And, they started a traditional cultivation method by growing vegetables on floating islands. These floating islands have become buoyant clods by gathering silts in the lake.

High-standard hotels built of natural resources such as wood and bamboos in the Innlay Lake and Nyaung Shwe region to accommodate visitors from home and abroad. The guests can enjoy the beautiful sceneries of the lake as these hotels are constructed in the middle and at the bank of the lake.

Here, I'd like to present to you a famous Inn Tein Market day. Inn Tein Market day is opened once every 5-day in the Shan State. It is located near the Beluu creek which flows into the Innlay Lake from the West of the Lake. You can also observe Inn Tein stupas together with Inn Tein market. If you step up the splendid stairs-ways with the long concrete pillars, you will reach to the Inn Tein Mway Daw stupa, built on the hilltop. Due to the generosity of Pa-O and Innthar nationals in successive eras, at present it can be seen as a cluster of stupas.

From there you can visit the ancient Katku stupas, which are situated 28 miles form the south of Taunggyi. The most interesting point of the Katku stupas is over 2,500 stupas that are systematicllay built in a geometric design on a mere 4 acres of land. You will find the Pa-O nationals' villages and markets along the road and their living customs are to be interested.

When you pay a journey to Shan State, it will not be complete without paying a visit to Pintaya town and Pintaya Cave. Pintaya is a serene and peaceful town, 62 miles form the north-west of Taunggy. It is 3,880 ft above sea-level. It is a region where Dha Nu, Taung Yoe and Pa-O national races reside. Shwe U Hmin Cave is situated on the western mountain ranges of Pintaya. It is a kind of limestone cave which had been formed many years ago. A total of 8,095 Buddha images sculptured with the workmanship of early 17th century can be found in the cave. So, it is one of the unique caves in Myanmar. We can witness big stone drums and gongs, stalagmites and stalactites in the cave and can enter the cave deeply.

After paying a visit to Taunggyi, Katku, Innlay, Inn Tein and Pintaya regions, you can move onto Kalaw which is abundant with pine trees. Kalaw, situated 4000 ft above sea-level, is also an eminent hill station ancient edifice.

It is situated charmingly among mountain ranges, 44 miles from the west of Taunggyi. Due to the cold climate all the year round and its serenity with beautiful and colorful flowers, Kalaw is a suitable place to take a rest and so it is teeming with visitors.

If you walk along villages on the 4000 ft high mountain ranges in the western and northern parts of Kalaw, you will perceive an ancient living style of over a century ago. These are the villages of ancient Pa-Lay and Pa-Laung nationals. They have an ancient living custom in which 8 to 10 families live collectively in a single house. Furthermore, the Palaung women’s costumes with colorful Shirts and Longyis which have red strips are eye-catching for visitors.

Kalaw, which is beautiful and bountiful with pine trees and zigzag roads, attracts visitors due to its modern and comfortable hotels.

Nowadays, the Tourism Industry has become a booming industry in the world. And that's why; it is sure it created many new job opportunities for the local populace and will benefit the country greatly.