| Myitkyina is the capital city of Kachin State in Myanmar (formerly Burma), located 919 miles from Yangon, or 487 miles from Mandalay. In Burmese it means "near the big river", and in fact "Myitkyina" lies on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River, just below 26 miles from Myit-sone or the confluence of its two headstreams (the Mali Hka and N'mai Hka rivers). It is the northernmost river port and railways terminus in Myanmar. The population is a mix of Kachin, Shan, Bamar peoples and some Chinese and Indians. Fragrant rice produced near Myitkyina, called khat cho, is considered the best in Myanmar.
During World War II, Myitkyina fell to the Allied forces under General Joseph Stilwell after a prolonged siege and heavy fighting between Nationalist Chinese divisions and Merrill's Marauders of the Northern Combat Area Command and the besieged elements of the 33rd Imperial Japanese Army under General Masaki Honda. The town was strategically important not only because of its rail and water links to the rest of Burma, but also because it was on the planned route of the Ledo Road.
As the capital of the State, it has government offices, and a greater population than other cities in the State. The Kachin language is the common language among Kachin, but Burmese is the national language and everyone can speak Burmese. It has two big markets, Myitkyina University, a teachers college, a nursing training school, and a computer college, and various Christian theological seminaries and colleges affiliatied with several seminaries in the US and Asia,notably Kachin Theological College-Nawng Nan.
The city has a population of approximately 150,000. Major religions are Christianity and Buddhism, but other religions such as animism, Hinduism and Islam are also practised. Foreigners are now free to visit Myitkyina without prior government permission.
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