Taunggyi

Taunggyi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Shan State, Myanmar (Burma); and lies on the Thazi-Kyaingtong road at an elevation of , just north of Shwenyaung and Inle Lake within the Myelat region. Taunggyi is the fifth largest city of Myanmar. Even though Taunggyi city is the capital of Shan State, 45% of population are Pa'O People, 35% are Bamar People and 6% of population are Shan aka Tai People. The city is famous for its hot air balloon festival held annually on the full-moon day of Tazaungmon, the eighth month of the traditional Burmese calendar. Taunggyi is colloquially regarded as Myanmar's City of Music, famous for its culture of live music and numerous festivals.

== Etymology == The name Taunggyi (Burmese: တောင်ကြီးမြို့, Shan: ဝဵင်းတူၼ်ႈတီး) means "big mountain" in Burmese, referencing a ridge on the east of the city, part of the Shan Hills system, whose prominent high point is called Taung-chun or "The Spur." Locally this spur is also known as Mingalar Taung-chun, meaning “The Auspicious Spur.” The ridge has a more prominent and more popular feature known as Chauk Talone, meaning the Craigs.