Yangon, known formerly as Rangoon, is a former capital of Myanmar. The city is an amalgamation of British, Burmese, Chinese, and Indian influences. The city is known for its colonial architecture, which although is decaying, maintains an elegance of Rangoon's colonial days. New high-rise buildings have been constructed since the 1990s, as the government began to allow foreign investment. However, Yangon continues to be a city of the past, as seen by its longyi wearing pedestrians, its street vendors, and its pungent smells. t is best to visit Yangon from November to January, because the weather is most mild during this time. However, those who want to experience the Thigyan Festival (Burmese New Year) should visit in April. Visit Shwedagon Paya, Myanmar's foremost pilgrimage site, is a 100 m gold-gilded stupa located on the outskirts of Yangon. The core of the pagoda is believed to house many Buddhist relics, including a few strands of Buddha's hair. The pagoda is surrounded by many zedis, and is an excellent shopping location, Sule Paya, located on a roundabout in the cantonment, is a 46 m octagonal-shaped stupa that houses a strand of Buddha's hair. It is gold-gilded, and is surrounded by an array of smaller zedis and Buddhas and St. Mary's Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located near the cantonment. The cathedral's exterior is rundown, but its interior is exquisite.