Bhamo

The population consists primarily of residents Chinese or Shan descent, with Kachin peoples primarily occupying the hills around the town. It is the administrative center of Bhamo District and Bhamo Township.

• Native Name — ဗန်းမော်မြို့ • Official Name — Bhamo • Other Name — Hsinkai • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Myanmar Myanmar • Subdivision Type1 — Division • Subdivision Name1 — Kachin State • Subdivision Type2 — District • Subdivision Name2 — Bhamo District • Subdivision Type3 — Township • Subdivision Name3 — Bhamo Township • Unit Pref — Imperial • Population As Of — 2019 • Population Blank1 — Bamar (51.54%) • Population Blank1 Title — Ethnicities • Population Blank2 — Theravada Buddhism • Population Blank2 Title — Religions • Population Density Km2 — auto • Population Total — 54721 • Time Zone — MST • Utc Offset — +6.30 • Custom Label Sec1 — Climate • Custom Data Sec1 — Cwa

Bhamo is derived from the Shan language placename "Man Maw" (maan˧ mɔ˧), meaning "potter's village" or "village of jars."

Bhamo was once called Sampanago, the capital of the now-extinct Shan predecessor kingdom of Man Maw. The ruins of the old city walls, dating from the fifth century, are found some 5 km from the modern town. From 1869 to 1879, it was the seat of British colonial Assistant political agent, subordinate to the Resident with the king of and in Ava. In the early 20th century, due to its location at the highest navigable point of the river, it formed a part of caravan routes bringing jade from India to China.

Bhamo is the terminus of river ferries from Mandalay. There is no river ferry between Bhamo and the state capital Myitkyina. The land route between Bhamo and Mu Se District (Muse, part of northern Shan State) is in poor condition. Bhamo is one of the official border trading towns between China and Myanmar.

There are three universities in Bhamo: Banmaw University; Technological University (Banmaw); and University of Computer Science (Banmaw).

Bhamo has a climate that lies in the transition between tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) and humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa). Temperatures are very warm throughout the year, although the winter months (December–February) are milder. There is a winter dry season (November–April) and a summer wet season (May–October).