Myanmar's Taunggyi, the capital of Shan state, has been chosen as one of the 10 best natural environmental conservation cities in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN), the local Weekly Eleven news journal reported Tuesday.

It was so awarded at a ceremony held recently in Vietnam to encourage undertakings in environmental conservation in the region in the best way with upgraded level.

Taunggyi, a cold and hilly city lying 1.37 kilometers above sea-level, stands as the fourth biggest city of Myanmar with a population of 200,000.

The city is not only a commercial center for Shan state but also a place where ethnic minorities inhabit and travel.

The Inlay Lake, located near Taunggyi, is known as one of Myanmar's famous tourist sites attracting large number of world travelers.

Meanwhile, Myanmar is making efforts to extend its environmental conservation area up to 10 percent of the total of the country as part of its long-term plan of promoting eco-tourism.

Myanmar's present environmental conservation area remains at 4.7 percent that is 31,961 square-kilometers covered by 38 environmental conservation regions.

Of them, there set up 14 eco-tourism based camps mainly known as Hlawga Wildlife park, Yangon Zoological Garden, Inlay Lake Sanctuary, Mount Popa Park, Pyin Oo Lwin National Kandawgyi Garden, Khakaborazi National Park and Myainghewun Elephant Camp.

Of these eco-tourism facilities, the Khakaborazi National Park, located in Kachin state, northernmost part of the country, was highlighted as a significant one which will soon emerge as the first ever world heritage of Myanmar.

In 1998, Myanmar designated the area of Mount Khakaborazi as the national park to focus on conservation of environment and bio-diversities of eastern area of Himalayan mountain ranges as well as to safeguard the areas where Myanmar's mighty Ayeyawaddy River originates.

The park, covered an area of 3,811 square kilometers and with an altitude of between 900 meters and 5.7 kilometers, has a temperature of between 15 degree Celsius in maximum and -3 degree Celsius in minimum.

Visitors may enjoy scenic beauty of over 3,000 meters high snow-capped mountain ranges.

Rich in natural resources including wildlife and rare species of flora and fauna that attracts tourists, Myanmar is encouraging entrepreneurs to promote eco-tourism industry at the environmental conservation regions to earn income for the state.

According to official statistics, tourist arrivals in Myanmar in the fiscal year 2007-08 which ended in March, totaled 288,776 with 51,872 more registered in the first quarter of 2008-09.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2008)