Yangon | Southeast Asia's architectural treasure

Deutsche Welle reports from Yangon, which it describes as one of the region's most exciting cities. Following decades of international isolation, the city has still kept onto many of its colonial-era buildings.

Deutsche Welle presents a beautiful photo panorama of some of the highlighted heritage buildings, such as:

The Secretariat
Welcome to the Secretariat, Yangon's iconic colonial building, which is an epic symbol of British rule; a haunting monument to the broken dreams of Burmese independence. Built in several stages between 1889 and 1905, it became the administrative center of British Burma. The sight of those glowing red bricks, obscured by forbidding barbed wire, transfixes legions of locals and visitors alike.

Tripitaka Library
Several buildings from the 1950s and '60s tell the story of a young nation struggling to find its place in the world. The Tripitaka Library, pictured here, was built on the occasion of the Sixth Buddhist Synod which took place in Yangon from 1954-1956.

Yangon Architectural Guide
It is not yet clear how the city's landscape is going to change in the coming years. Many of Yangon's historic sites are in a dilapidated state, but few are interested in their preservation. That's why Ben Bansal, Elliott Fox and Manuel Oka recently wrote a guide book titled "Yangon Architectural Guide," summarizing the city's architectural heritage. The book will be available from October 2015.