At 1.2 km, the oldest and longest wooden bridge in the world allows the Burmese of Amarapura to experience Lake Taungthaman. But 160 years after its construction, U Bein is in its twilight.
u-Bein Bridge
How to go
Take a pick-up van from those that regularly pass through Mandalay, or hire a taxi, rickshaw or bicycle. The bike ride can take between 45 minutes to 1 hour. Another alternative is to sign up for a tour of the Amarapura region, but remember that you may not have the time and freedom you wanted.
Explore
Myanmar's very low prices allow you to take successive pick-up trucks between towns or monuments or have a taxi, rickshaw or bicycle at your disposal without any financial damage worthy of mention. Once the vehicle is sorted out, departing early from Mandalay, you can explore the ancient cities around Mandalay – Amarapura, Inwa etc and their monuments with relative ease.
Money and costs
Entrance to the Mandalay Archaeological Site costs 10 dollars (7.5€). It includes Inwa, Amarapura and a visit to the U-Bein Bridge. The boat ride on Taungthaman Lake should cost around 2€.