THE hundred-year-old Chin Tsong Palace in Yangon, currently used as a fine arts school under the Ministry of Culture, is being converted into a culture centre and promoted as a new attraction for tourists.
Htay Lwin, deputy director, fine arts school department, Ministry of Culture, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “We are converting this building into a culture centre where visitors can see and buy all kind of arts and crafts stuff in one place.”
The five-storey Chin Tsong palace was built between 1915 and 1919 by a Chinese immigrant called Lim Chin Tsong as his residence. During the Japanese Occupation, it was used for All Burma Broadcasting Station, before being transformed into Kanbawza Yeiktha hotel in 1951 after World War II.
Said Htay Lwin: “Occasionally the centre will arrange for exhibitions in the main hall, as well as traditional culture and puppet shows in the mini-theatre next to the building.” The mini-theatre can accommodate up to 100 people and is ready for rent to interested show organisers, he said.
“Interested business persons or culture-related organisations can rent the spaces on the ground floor for a short- or long-term contracts with us. They can directly contact the Ministry or our office in this building,” he added.
Aung Myat Kyaw, chairman of Union of Myanmar Travel Association, welcomes the move. He said: “The idea to convert this heritage building into a culture centre is great, along with the planning of cultural dance performances and puppet shows at the theatre. Yangon will have a new tourism product that will likely draw a big number of tourists.”
