Myanmar’s former capital of Amarapura is a leafy, suburb-like town in Mandalay, on the eastern bank of the Irrawaddy River, just north of the ancient city of Ava. The town is known for its traditional weaving workshops, particularly those producing silk and cotton textiles, as well as craft workshops specialising in wood carving and bronze casting. Nearby Taungthaman Lake is crossed by U Bein’s Bridge, a nearly two-century-old teak footbridge stretching for about 1.2 kilometres. One of Myanmar’s best-known landmarks, the bridge is especially striking at sunset, when local residents, monks and fishermen move across and around the lake. Amarapura is also home to historic monasteries, pagodas and remnants of the old royal city, scattered among its modern streets.