Burma Road

Burma Road, highway, southeastern Asia, extending about 1125 km (about 700 mi) from the railhead of Lashio, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), to Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, China. Built by the Chinese as a military supply route in 1937-1938, it was used by the Allies during the early months of World War II. The supplies for China were landed in Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon) and shipped by rail to Lashio; from there they were carried by truck over the road across rugged mountainous terrain, with elevations ranging from 975 to 2590 m (3200 to 8500 ft).

In April 1942 the Japanese captured Lashio and closed the road. The Allies were not able to reopen it until January 20, 1945. In the meantime, the Allies constructed an alternate supply route, which originated in Ledo, a railhead in Assam, India, and crossed northern Myanmar to connect to the Chinese portion of the Burma Road. It was named Stilwell Road in honor of the American general Joseph W. Stilwell. After the war, the road fell into disuse.