[1][2][3] Construction began when the capital of Ava Kingdom moved to Amarapura,[4] and the bridge is named after Maung Bein who had it built.

[5] It is used as an important passageway for the local people and has also become a tourist attraction and, therefore, a significant source of income for souvenir sellers.

Though the bridge largely remains intact, there are fears that an increasing number of the pillars are becoming dangerously decayed.

Their presence is aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour and preventing criminal activities, with the first arrest coming in September 2013 when two men were reported for harassing tourists.

Myanmar construction engineers used traditional methods of scaling and measuring to build the bridge.