Kyaukme District

Not to be confused with Kyaukse District

Kyaukme District (Burmese: ကျောက်မဲခရိုင်, Kyaukmàe Hkăyaing, Shan: ၸႄႈတွၼ်ႈၵျွၵ်းမႄး, Chàetàwn Kiawkmae) is a district of Shan State in Myanmar, and is bordered by Pyin Oo Lwin District of the Mandalay Region and Katha District of the Sagaing Region to the west, Bhamo District of Kachin State to the north, Lashio District to the east, and Taunggyi District and Loilem District to the south. It also partially surrounds the Palaung Self-Administered Zone in the northeast.

The capital is Kyaukme, which is located in the south-central area of the district. The district has a population of 863,548 people, making it the second most populous district of Shan State.

Kyaukme District is the location of the Gokteik Viaduct, which was the highest bridge in the British Empire. Other notable places in the district include Mongmit, the mining town of Namtu, the market town of Nawnghkio, and Hsipaw.

Geography
Kyaukme District is the largest district of Shan State, and can be divided into two geographic zones. In the north around Mongmit are flat plains with a few hills, with the southern area being located in the Shan Plateau region, with canyons, elevated plains, and mountains. The district's highest peak is an unnamed mountain in the southeast that reaches over 2000m above sea level, near the village of Mong Hko.

The district's odd shape is credited to the creation of the Palaung Self-Administered Zone, created from two townships that were previously part of the district. The central government opted to keep the mining town of Namtu as a part of Kyaukme District lest it fall to Ta'ang rebel forces in the Palaung SAZ, and thus forms a salient in the district's east.

The steep and deep valley that is the canyon of the Myitnge River forms the district's southern border with Taunggyi District, and is one of the largest canyon networks in Southeast Asia. The Gokteik Viaduct crosses an arm of this canyon.

Transport
Kyaukme District is relatively well-connected compared to other districts of Shan State. The Lashio Railway runs from west to east through the towns of Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, and Hsipaw, as well as a small railway that serves the mines in Namtu.

There are numerous roads in the district, but no contiguous connection between the northern and southern halves. Mongmit is connected by road to Bhamo in the north and Mogok in the south, which in turn is connected to Kyaukme. All other major towns are situated on the Lashio Highway, which extends from Mandalay all the way to Namtit on the Chinese border.

There are two airports in the district; one at Mongmit which also serves as the airport for Mogok, and another in Namtu, mainly for fly-in fly-out mine workers.