TODAY

Ninety-five percent of the Shan tribes are Therevada Buddhists, so there are many pagodas, monasteries and prayer halls scattered around the landscape. They donate generously to the pagodas and monasteries, no matter how little income they earn. The Shan people do not believe in the Nats so there are only Buddhist alters in their homes. The architecture and culture of Shan state, especially the pagodas and Buddha statues, is very similar to that of Thailand and Laos.

Agriculture is the main industry in Shan State due to its good weather, fair rainfall and excellent natural green manure. They are able to grow a wide range of crops including beans, pea, tea, potatoe, onion and vegetables. There are three type of agriulture in the State: cultivation, hill-side cultivation and gardening. On the plains, the land is irrigated by pumping water from the rivers, but on the hillsides and mountains there is very limited water so terraces are constructed to irrigate the land.