A pair of guardian chinthe statues stand watch at the base of the stairway leading up Mandalay Hill, Burma. These mythical lion-like figures traditionally flank the entrances to Buddhist stupas and pagodas. Photographed during the World War II China-Burma-India Campaign, this image reflects the encounter between Allied servicemen and the rich religious heritage of Burma following the 1945 recapture of Mandalay from Japanese forces. Project: 218075