Keng Tung Things to Do

Here is the view over the Naung Tung lake towards Wat Yong Kham. The lake is centrally located in town and mostly fenced. In this area they rise large modern buildings nowsadays(unfortunatelly they look terrible and out of place), probably hotels but there are still some old buildings worth to take a look left. There's Chinese temple on the east side and if you're lucky, you'll find near it a man who makes delicious sweets - doughnuts - in the wok outside. It takes less than hour to get around the lake.

The way towards Loi Mwe is worth an effort and money because you'll see some really nice views from high mountains and pass rivers, a few villages and fields with lots of buffalos and cows. That photo is taken a few kilometers from KT, we were on motorbike trip and these large stones looked very nice early in the morning. Buffalos around and near. The road isn't very good - it's narrow and steep and unpaved, but if you can't bare motorbike rides your next chance will be by someone's car - I think your hotel can arrange a driver for you if you want. Not many people do it, though.

Not very far before Kengtung there are many rice fields and steep slopes of large Shan mountains. This is a photo from the Tachileik road, about 10 km before Kengtung. Because of large demand, these hill slopes are deforested.

This is the main road that enters city if you travel from Thailand and it continues towards central Shan state and the rest of Burma. At the edge of town before you enter center, there's large primary school to your right, then there's large tatmadaw camp on your left a bit further from school (and on the edge of center) and many traditional Shan houses all along the road throughout the town. It's quite pleasant street in the shade of large trees to walk through, not too much cars and it becomes amazingly loud when kids finish school. There are some nice places to drink a tea and eat near the school.

This is inside Kengtung's most famous wat - Yong Kham: spacious prayer room with many Buddha images. Rather dark place with warm feeling, wooden floor and beautiful warm light penetrating the room from side doors. It's said the site was constructed in 13th century and has been constantly rebuilt and improved since. It's altogether impressive building inside and outside with golden hti and jewels on the very top. Often visited by Thai people and it's one best kept historical buildings in town.