Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is the capital of Luang Prabang Province in north-central Laos, with a population of about 55,027. Its name, meaning "Royal Buddha Image," comes from the Phra Bang statue that symbolizes Lao sovereignty; historically known as Xieng Thong, it became the capital of the Lan Xang kingdom in 1353 and a center of political power in the region. UNESCO designated the city a World Heritage Site in 1995 for its blend of Lao architecture, European colonial buildings and more than thirty Buddhist temples, and its protected heritage area, covering 33 of its 58 villages, still hosts the daily morning alms-giving ceremony central to Lao Buddhist tradition.