Occupying a hilly mountain plateau at the height of nearly 1,500 metres above sea level, Taunggyi is a curious multicultural hodgepodge. This can be best observed at its busy Myoma Market, where stacks of regional handicrafts courtesy of the Shan, Intha and Pa-O tribespeople populate the stalls along with merchandise from across the Chinese and Thai borders, conveniently located close by. In the midst of town, the Kwan Yin Si Hpaya Kyaung Pagoda, the spires of the St. Joseph's Cathedral and the relatively new Sulamuni Pagoda further endorse this coming together of races, as they rub shoulders with government buildings and facilities that befit the regional capital of the Shan state. And while there is not much on the tourism list to tick off here, your Taunggyi tour guide will definitely tell about the famous Fire Balloon Festival of November, unquestionably the town’s biggest draw when hot air balloons of assorted shapes and sizes bearing offerings are cast by hundreds of believers into the sky.