Namsan Range

Forested mountain ridges rise west of the valleys of Mangshi and Mengmao, in the border country between Yunnan and Burma. Rivers cut through the hills toward the wider Irrawaddy basin, while settlements occupy the lower valleys. The mountains surround lands once governed by Tai hereditary chiefs, including the rulers of Mengmao. Moving between the basins required travelers to follow valleys and cross the intervening wooded heights.