Visiting Myanmar with children provides families the opportunity to share cultural experiences together, by taking walks through side streets and cycling together through smaller towns in the outlying areas to view the daily lives and activities of the locals. For more organised activity, upscale hotels provide facilities for swimming and tennis, and some offer horseback riding as well. A highlight is a traditional Mandalay marionette show, which is typically on the itineraries of most visitors to the city.

Amusement Parks
If your children want to see what a typical Myanmar amusement park is like, you can take them to either Fantasy World or the smaller amusement section at Yadanar Bon. The latter is mainly a zoo, but it features an amusement area as well. Visiting an amusement park is a good chance for your family to interact with local families enjoying a day out together. Phone: +95 2 38667 (Fantasy World); +95 2 30172 (Yadanar Bon).

Cycling
Bicycles can be hired at several locations in Mandalay: two popular operations are one that’s located on 25^th street, near the Royal Guest House, and a second that’s located on 83^rd street, opposite the Mann Restaurant. Kids’ bicycle seats are not typically available for hire, nor are children’s bikes. Bikes for youngsters are cheap to buy and it is sometimes possible to make a deal to sell the bicycle back to the shop when you’re finished using it.

Marionettes
Taking in a production of the Mandalay Marionettes is likely to be a highlight for you as well as your kids. The themes of the performances are taken from the story of Buddha’s life and historic legend. The puppets are carved from wood, stand up to three feet high and are dressed in embroidered silk and velvet costumes decorated with gems and sequins. A trishaw ride to the theatre will add to the experience. Phone: +95 2 34446; website: www.mandalaymarionettes.com.

Swimming and Tennis
Although you won’t find beaches or public swimming pools in Mandalay, you will find both swimming and tennis facilities at the more upscale hotels and resorts in the area. If you’re looking for rest and relaxation after a long day of sightseeing in the heat, this is a good way for kids to keep themselves occupied.

Yadanarbon Zoological Gardens
The city features a small zoo that’s located near the base of Mandalay Hill, called the Yadanarbon Zoological Gardens. Although the country’s main zoo is located in Yangon, this zoo houses a number of native species and makes a good stop either before or after making the climb up the hill. Phone: +95 1 381748.

Myanmar neighbours with India, China and Thailand, and its culture has been strongly influenced by all three countries. In addition, the influences of the British from the colonial period are still evident. In Mandalay, you’ll see examples of Burmese culture at its best – in museums, classical music and dance performances, and in local handicrafts.

Art and Cultural Museums
A visit to two of the better museums here will provide a look at the archaeological, art and cultural history of this area. The University of Mandalay Archaeological Museum is located in the Bawdigon sector of Mandalay and features ethnography, art and history collections. The National Museum of Mandalay features exhibits on the cultural history of the area.

Folk and Classical Pwe
Traditional pwe troupes combine drama and dance with music played on traditional instruments. The Moustache Brothers Troupe, located on 39th street, is one of the most well-known groups in Mandalay. Shorter programmes are normally offered at restaurants, such as the Grand and the Ambassador, and also on the roof of the Zeigyo Market.

Gold Leaf Factory
Turning gold into gold leaf is a labour-intensive industry that’s been based here for many years. A visit to a local factory makes for an interesting change from the more typical sightseeing options, and offers a glimpse into the local culture. Devout Buddhists buy gold leaf to rub on Buddha images, in order to make merit.

Handicrafts, Puppets, Tapestries
There are several places around the city where you can see various traditional handicrafts being made including puppets and tapestries. The area around Zeigyo Market and a shop called Aung Nan, situated close to the Maha Muni pagoda, are good choices where you can purchase these items.

Kickboxing
This traditional Asian sport – Burmese style – can be seen in action on 76th street, at a small training facility. Full matches are held at various venues around the city, and the staff at the training facility will be able to give you more information as to places and times.

Sagaing
Sagaing is another former capital, located across the river from Ava, and is home to a number of monasteries. Most of these monasteries date from the early 20th century, and the architecture of the buildings blends traditional Burmese and colonial styles. There’s a feeling here of another age: in the late afternoon you can see water buffalo at work dragging logs to the banks of the river, as they have done since the area was originally settled.

Food lovers will find plenty of choices in Mandalay, from Burmese favourites to a range of Chinese specialties. Noodle shops are a popular choice, particularly for quick and inexpensive fare. The city is well-known for its spicy noodles that are a Shan tradition, and also for rice and tofu-based dishes. Chinese-Muslim noodles are popular here also: this is a flat noodle that’s served with chicken, chillies and a variety of herbs and spices. You can recognise these noodle shops by the bilingual Arabic and Chinese signs displayed outside.

A local specialty is a dish known as Mandalay moah-ti, a dry curry made in the Burmese-style. The method involves cooking small chunks of chicken with a roasted pea powder, adding cilantro and sliced green onion, and serving this over noodles. The dish is typically garnished with fried chow mein noodles, roasted chillies, lime juice, fried garlic oil and a dash of fish sauce. Locals say that a cold beer goes well with this: a local favourite is the Mandalay-brewed Red Label. For something sweet, you might want to try htou moun, a dessert with a gelatine-like texture that is found only in Mandalay.

Zeigyo Market is the place to go for house wares or local handicrafts. During the day – starting quite early in the morning – the market is bustling with many local craftsmen offering their goods for sale. After dark, when trading ceases, the marketplace turns into a bar and restaurant zone. For shoppers looking to buy souvenirs, Phayagyi Bazaar, located near Maha Muni pagoda, is a good choice. Specialties here include items of a religious nature, including images of the Buddha.

If you’d like to combine an evening shopping excursion with good food, a visit to Chinatown is in order. Specialties in Chinatown include tasty and exotic delicacies from various regions in China, and fine examples of locally-crafted lacquer ware. U Ba Nyein is located here, a workshop and showroom for traditional Myanmar lacquer ware.

Sagyin, a town about 15 miles north of Mandalay, is home to marble quarries and workshops producing marble carvings and statues. The main workshop in the area is found on the Sagaing-Mandalay road. Jewellery items made from precious gems and jade are readily available in Mandalay, and the better hotels have shops that are reputable (or can recommend shops in the city). If you’re interested in gems rather than jewellery, you can get permission to hike north to the town of Mogok, the source of some of the world’s finest gems.

Outdoor activities on offer in Mandalay cover the range from golf and hiking to traditional sports and jungle treks. Mandalay’s weather is warm and pleasant for most of the year, meaning that you can enjoy your favourite activities out-of-doors anytime you visit. Golfers will find a selection of well-equipped courses available.

Chinglone
This traditional game is similar to the game played in Thailand known as takraw. The object of the game is to keep a small ball made of woven cane in the air for as long as possible using only the feet and knees. Two teams of six players compete. As this is a favourite sport throughout the country, visitors are sure to see it being played both in organised and spontaneous matches everywhere.

Exploring the City on Foot
Mandalay sprawls over quite a large area and a stroll around the city walls can be daunting in the heat. However, exploring Mandalay on foot is likely to reward you with sights you might otherwise miss. It’s a good idea to plan a route in advance and to take advantage of the lower temperatures in the early morning or late afternoon. Chinatown is a good place to stop for food and the Phayagyi Bazaar offers up some interesting souvenirs.

Golf
Courses can be found both within the city and in outlying areas. The city course is located to the north of the fort and palace, just off 73^rd street. Courses outside the city limits include the Shwe Man Taung Golf Resort, which is around 10 minutes by car from the city centre and Yay Dagon Taung Golf Resort, about 20 minutes by car from the centre. Phone: +95 2 60570 (Shwe Man Taung Golf Resort); +95 2 88731 (Yay Dagon Taung Golf Resort).

Hiking
The climb up Mandalay Hill is the one hike on offer within the city limits. Located in the north-eastern corner of Mandalay, you’ll find the climb to the top to be a good workout, and you’ll be rewarded with great views of the city and surrounding area from the summit. As you make your way to the top, you’ll pass numerous pagodas, a monastery and an immense Buddha image. The climb up must be done barefoot as the hill is considered sacred, but the climb is not that arduous as the hill is less than 800ft high.

Htou’hsi Tou
This traditional, informal game is played outdoors and involves one team attempting to penetrate a marked-off space before being tagged by someone from the opposing team. In Myanmar, most traditional sports are played by both men and women. Htou’hsi tou was at one time regarded as a women’s game, but in fact men have played on teams as well for centuries.

Trekking
Trekking is possible in the area around Mandalay, but it usually involves advance planning. There are no operators in Mandalay who organise trekking tours, but companies in Yangon will make arrangements for you with sufficient notice. It’s possible that you can join a trek that coincides with the timing of your visit, or you can have a trip customised to your interests. Eco-treks and treks to gold and ruby mining operations are popular.