Almost every town in Burma with a Panthay population has its 'Panthay Balee' or Chinese Muslim mosque. Some of the more important are in Rangoon, Taunggyi, Mogok, Myitkyina, and Lashio. However, the most architecturally interesting, and the one with the oldest history, is the Panthay Mosque at Mandalay. According to records kept by the Mandalay Panthay community, as well as to oral tradition passed down amongst them, King Mindon encouraged Panthay traders to settle in Mandalay with a view to promoting trade between Burma and Yunnan.