English language sources of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries use names such as Teng-Chung, Tingyueh, Teng Yueh, Momein and Momien.

The Sichuan cloth and bamboo sticks available at the markets in Bactria (including Afghanistan and parts of India) were brought there from the ancient Bonan Route through Tengchong.

From the Ming dynasty onwards, large numbers of Tengchong people went abroad to trade and seek a livelihood.

The city grew wealthy from trade with Myanmar and South East Asia due to its proximity to Mandalay across the Burmese border.

In the West the town is best known as the site of the murder of British diplomat Augustus Margary on February 21, 1875, an event which led to the Chefoo Convention.

It was also the base of the China Inland Mission missionary James Fraser during the majority of his time working with the Lisu people.

In the early 20th century, a thriving cross-border trade between British-controlled Burma and China was centered around Tengchong.

During World War II, the area around Tengchong was the scene of fierce battles between the Japanese, invading from occupied Burma, and the combined Chinese forces of nationalists and communists aided by American fighter squadrons.

Situated at the southwestern end of the (transversely faulted) Hengduan Mountains, Tengchong topographically assumes the form of a horseshoe with the opening facing the south.

The volcanoes on Dayingshan, Shitoushan, the Greater Heikongshan, the Lesser Heikong Mountains erupted repeatedly.

Han, Dai and Lisu are dominant but also Tibetans, Bai, Aini and people with Burmese ancestry are plentiful.

Spring begins early and remains relatively dry and sunny until May, when there is a dramatic uptick in frequency and amount of rainfall that lasts until late September.

The major products include refined tin, pig iron, crude lead, timber, plywood, cement, refractory, diatomite filtration promoter, sulphuric acid, caustic soda, hydrochlorite potassium chlorate, calcium phdrogen phosphate, paper, canesugar, refined tea leaves, preserved fruits, edible oil, matches, Chinese medicine, etc.

In agriculture, Tengchong produces grain and oil crops, tobacco, tea leaves, sugarcane, etc.

In recent years, Tengchong has become a centre of imported Burmese amber, which is largely smuggled over the border from Myanmar.

Burmese amber was estimated to make up 30% of Tenchong's gemstone market (the rest being jade), and was declared one of the cities eight main industries by the local government.

[8] Tengchong's Jade and Amber Bazaar takes place every fifth day and attracts many dealers, Burmese traders, tourists and locals.

Mineral resources include iron, tin, lead, zinc, wolfram, uranium, diatomite, rock crystal.

The town of Heshun features impressive architecture that was built with wealth from multi-generational trading families who sent children to Burma.

A large but seasonal fresh water wetland to the north attracts bird-watchers and nature-lovers, and tourists also visit a commercially developed volcanic park to the south.

Routes to Sichuan and Beijing (over Kunming) have proved popular and the city predicts double the amount of annual visitors over the next five years.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, established in 2003.