TUNG KENO is the most extensive of the Shan States in the province of Burma. The state is known to the Chinese as Meng Keng, and was frequently called by the Burmese "the 32 cities of the GOn" (Hkon), Tung Keng has expanded considerably since the establishment of British control, by the inclusion of the dis tricts of Hsen Yawt, Hsen Mawng, Mong Hsat, Mong Pu, and the cis-Mekong portions of Keng Cheng, which in Burmese times were separate charges. The "classical" name of the State is Khemarata or Khemarata Tungkapuri. About 63% of the area lies in the basin of the Mekong river and 37% in the Salween drainage area. Some peaks rise to over 7,000 ft.; the elevation is nowhere much below 5,000 feet. There are successive parallel hill ranges running north and south. Mountainous country predominates. The chief rivers, tributaries of the Salween, are the Nam Hka, the Hwe Long, Nam Pu and the Nam Hsim. The first and last are consid erable rivers. Rocks and rapids make both unnavigable, but much timber goes down the Nam Hsim.
Teak forests exist in Ming Pu and Ming Hsat, and also in the Mekong drainage area in the south of the State, but there is only a local market for the timber. Rice, as elsewhere in the Shan States, is the chief crop. Next to it is sugar-cane. Earth-nuts and tobacco are the only other field crops in the valleys. On the hills, besides rice, cotton, poppy and tea are the chief crops. The tea is carelessly grown, badly prepared, and only consumed locally.
Much garden produce is raised in the valleys. The State is rich in cattle, and exports them to the country west of the Salween. As in all parts of the Shan States, there are huge areas awaiting development.
Tung Keng, the capital, is surrounded by a brick wall and moat about 5 m. round. Only the central and northern portions are much built over.