Bawdwin is a village in northeast

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

(formerly

Burma Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...

Geography

Bawdwin is situated in the

northern Shan State Shan State (, ; , ) is a administrative divisions of Myanmar, state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China (Yunnan) to the north, Laos (Louang Namtha Province, Louang Namtha and Bokeo Provinces) to the east, and Thailand (Chiang Rai Province, Chia ...

Namtu Township Namtu Township () is a township of Kyaukme District in Shan State, Myanmar (Burma). The principal town is Namtu Namtu () is a town situated in northern Shan State, Myanmar. It is famous for Bawdwin and Namtu silver mines. NamTu River is flowing ...

Kyaukme District Kyaukme District is a district of northern Shan State in Myanmar. It contains four townships and its capital is Kyaukme. Administrative divisions , Kyaukme District contained the following townships and subtownships. * Hsipaw Township * Kyaukme ...

(formerly Upper

). It is located 150 km from the Chinese border.

Early history

Since the 15th century, the Bawdwin village has been a hub for mining operations and was controlled for centuries by China before British colonists arrived. Records and the remnants of temples, mosques, theaters, and other public structures and bridges indicate that Bawdwin was once a thriving Chinese colony. Discoveries of manacled skeletons and inscriptions in the neighborhood indicate that the region and its mine served as one of the Chinese government's prison settlements. The

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

used ancient Chinese laborers to mine silver at

Bawdwin Mine Bawdwin Mine () is a historical mine in northeast Myanmar (formerly Burma) which was one of the largest mines controlled by the British Empire before World War II. It was first mined by the Chinese in the 15th century. Early history The Bawdwin ...

as early as 1412 A.D. Up to 20,000 laborers were reportedly working at Bawdwin by the eighteenth century. In 1868, the area was abandoned amid the

Panthay Rebellion The Panthay Rebellion (1856–1873), also known as the Du Wenxiu Rebellion (Tu Wen-hsiu Rebellion), was a rebellion of the Muslim Hui people and other (Muslim as well as non-Muslim) ethnic groups against the Manchu-led Qing dynasty in southwe ...

. Mining interests would resurface under British rule, reestablishing Bawdwin into a

mining community A mining community, also known as a mining town or a mining camp, is a community that houses miners. Mining communities are usually created around a mine or a quarry. Historical mining communities Australia * Ballarat, Victoria * Bendi ...

from 1903 to the 1920s. The Bawdwin Mine's surroundings were developed. The area included its own railway, civil police force, local court, post offices, residential quarters, schools, and one of Upper Burma's (now Myanmar) largest hospitals.

Landmarks

References

{{authority control Villages in Myanmar 2nd millennium in Myanmar Populated places in Shan State Populated places in Myanmar

Geography

Early history

Landmarks

See also

References