The new capital city that appeared overnight

Yangon, previously known as Rangoon, served as the country's capital from 1948 until November 6, 2005, when the military authorities relocated the seat of government 320 kilometers north to Naypyidaw. The new capital is more strategically and centrally positioned. However, no formal rationale for the change has been provided. Some speculate that the move was prompted by an astrologer's prediction of a foreign military invasion. According to the Guardian, it was Than Shwe's "vanity project" from 1992 until 2011. The city has few amenities but receives an uninterrupted supply of energy, which is unique in the nation. It also has a 20-lane highway. However, due to its desolate appearance, journalists have dubbed it a "ghost city."

Yangon was the bustling capital of Myanmar in October 2005. A few weeks later, it was no longer the capital, and government employees were forced to evacuate over 400 kilometers up the road to Naypyidaw. The administration secretly developed the new city before announcing it as the new administrative center.