Mandalay is Myanmar's second-largest city and the cultural capital of the country, sitting at the foot of Mandalay Hill beside the Irrawaddy River. The city is renowned for its royal palace, traditional crafts such as gold leaf beating and silk weaving, and the nearby ancient cities of Amarapura, Sagaing, and Inwa. The famous U Bein Bridge — the world's longest teak footbridge — stretches across Taungthaman Lake just outside the city.