Zay cho market
In our Myanmar, market is a public and information centre as various people from different region come there.
Associated with the grand Mandalay city, "Zay-Cho market" is well-known for its' cheaper-price as well as the nuisance of the dealers with unique style of golden-anglet. It is situated at the corner of 26 (B) Street and between 84-87 streets in down town area.
The buildings of Zay-Cho market were firstly designed and erected during the colonial period in 1904-05 A.D. by a French civil engineer. At the very first, there were 12 buildings marked in alphabetical order of A to L under the single-shelter and built of brick and zinc-sheet as roofing. By the passing of time, buildings of Zay-Cho arket were getting old due to intense-weather and other effects for years and not kept up to the need of time and circumstance as the market oriented economy system was introduced to Myanmar in 1990s. 6 complexs labelled from A to F were dismantled for reconstruction of a new modern building in order to match the need of international standard. Thus, the reconstruction work was started on June 16, 1994. It took for about 3 years to come to completion. The opening ceremony of the grand market was held on 31st July 1997 and presented by the state officials. The total cost of reconstruction came to an amount of 8650 million kyats.
Now, the new Zay-Cho market is composed of 8 buildings in rows, all arc 4 storey-buildings, except for B complex as its' basis is a six-story-building. Stalls and shops are set in 8 square feet each so a floor could cover to a number of 774 stalls and 2976 stalls are in a four storey-building. For the six storey-building, it could served more 200 stalls more than the others. Thus, the total amount of all 8 complexes in Zay-Cho market A to H cater to a number of 3176 stalls. 6 escalators are installed at the heart of market-complexes for easy accessibility and convenience of the customers to buy commodities easily. All buildings are built of concrete with iron-reinforcement so as to bear the earth-quake of 6-Ritcher-scale as maximum.
As Mandalay is located in the strategic point and crossing-road of domestic and foreign trades, Zay-Cho becomes the centre of innumerable items of consumer-goods, including of wares from India, China and Thailand. Zay-Cho market is the symbol of fine arts and Myanmar handicrafts as it is the seat of last Myanmar kingdom as well as centre of gems and jewellwery. The Zay-Cho is the most famous market in Myanmar which may be the largest shopping centre in Asia.