Panglong in the Wa regions near the China border is a town founded by Chinese Muslim settlers in the trans-Salween Wa States. It became an important Hui (Chinese Muslim) settlement after the collapse of the Yunnan Muslim rebellion (1856 - 1873).

Chinese muleteers were known to the Burmese as Panthay; and to the Thai and Lao as Haw or Chin Haw. They were - and to some extent still are - the masters of the Golden Triangle.

Yunnanese Chinese muleteers have for several centuries been the traders of the 'Golden Triangle' formed by the junction between Burma; China; Laos and Thailand. Travelling as far afield as Moulmein in Burma; Chengdu in China; Luang Prabang in Laos; Chiang Mai in Thailand and Lhasa in Tibet; they have long been indomitable caravan masters and today continue to thrive in motorized long distance commerce.