Once the focal point for spreading Dhamma, Mandalay now is the second largest region in Myanmar in many aspects. The weather in Mandalay in April and May is boiling hot, but it gradually cools down toward the end of the year. Although the heyday of Mandalay has gone, it is still an important trade port between China and India, which in turn leaves some foreign marks on the landscape of the city. Many marble statues depict the images of various Chinese deities. Some occasional sculpture draws on the Virgin Mary for inspiration. But dominant is still stunning Theravada Buddhist pagodas and mosaic shrines backed by Mandalay Hill and Irrawaddy River.