The capital state of Shan is Taungyi City. The Shan State was founded during the Pagan Kingdom. The Shan people prefer calling their land as 'Muang Tai', and they fondly go by the names of Tai or Dai instead of Shan. The Thais mostly call them 'Tai Yai', or 'big Thai'. The second largest ethnic residing in Shan is the Wa people. The mountainous landscape coupled with the Thanlwin River that flows through the state provides a breathtaking view of the state. Shan is also known to house many beautiful caves that tourists would not want to miss.
The Shan people consist of various ethnics like Wa, Pa-O, Palaung, Lisu, Lahu, Akha, Kokang and Intha. Some of the religions practised are Buddhishm, Christianity, Animism, Islam, and Hinduism. The locals speak Myanmarese and Shan, a language that resembles the Thai language.
Shan State is mostly hilly and the climate is cold and tropical with a state size of 155,801 km². It is bordered by China, Laos and Thailand.
As the state derived its name from the Shan people, self-administration areas can be found in Shan. Coming into 2014, the state’s population is at 5.824 million people.
Due to the mountainous topography, tourists can find some of the best caves in Myanmar in Shan state. Apart from admiring the formation of these caves, visitors can take in the view of diverse flora and fauna found in the surrounding area. Tourists also get to see magnificent limestone caves that take millions of years to form. The longest and deepest caves and archaeological caves can also be found in Shan State, making cave-exploring a compulsory activity for tourists. Taunggyi and Kalaw would be the best place for cave explorers to visit, as both places are known to have caves that date back to the Neolithic era.
Plenty of activities involving nature could be done in this state. Tourists can hike and trek hills and mountains while observing lush pine trees in pine forests, or watch sunsets by the lake. Tourists should also visit the floating villages. Villagers in the floating village are known for their unique rowing method in which they row their boats with only one leg, and this style can only be seen in Shan state. As Shan state offers tons of picturesque views with its hilly landscape and diverse ecosystem, the place is the ideal destination for photographers to take brilliant photos of nature. For those who prefer to learn more about Myanmar's history while keeping in touch with nature, they can visit caves that also serve as archaeological sites.
Diverse ethnics and cultures could be found in Shan. Each ethnic has an interesting background and history of how they began and it is an eye-opening experience to watch them interact with tourists and each other in their home ground. There is the once-fearsome Wa ethnic from the mountains that was called 'Wild Wa' by the British due to their head-hunting practices in the past. The Pa-O people are easily identified. The people mostly wear dark clothes with bright and colourful embroidery along with turbans on their heads for both men and women The Shans also have a folklore that dates back to the days of their ancestors. There is a belief that lonely places like graveyards and the forests are crowded with ghosts and demons, and the locals even have exorcisms to get rid of evil spirits. They also believe in reincarnation after one's death. As the Shans are mostly Buddhists, they highly regard compassion and enlightenment. They deeply respect the disciplined Buddhist monks and believe that staying away from negative practices would ward off evil and better their lives.
