Kunming in brief

Kunming is the capital city of the Yunnan Province located in Southwest China. Registered as the political, economical and cultural center of Yunnan Province, Kunming flourishes with lots of assets that rank it as an important tourist city. The city is situated on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and enjoys a monsoon subtropical climate pleasant to any travelers coming to visit the region for a while. Located nearby the border with Burma, Laos and Vietnam, this capital city of the Yunnan Province is a huge transportation hub to southeastern Asia. Wide palm-lined roads, sky scraping modern buildings, modern city center intertwining with ancient buildings... Kunming is a dynamic city lying in the gorgeous landscape of the Yunnan Province renowned among the backpackers and amateurs of outdoor sports community. In short, Kunming is a city that will give you for sure great memories.

History of Kunming – An ancient pivotal stop-off city to southeastern Asia

Kunming has a history tracing back to some 2400 years ago. Located on the passage to Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar and India, the city was a pivotal gateway and strategic stop-off point to mainland China. As a highly remote place until the 8^th century, Kunming and its area were home to the Bai Kingdom of Nanzhao which invaded the region, making the city of Dali its actual capital. Invaded then by the Mongols in 1274, Kunming started to live dark times at the beginning of the 17^th century. In the 19^th century, the intrusions of the Western forces of British Burma and French Indochina opened Kunming to foreign trade, while the French exploited the region's copper, tin and timber resources. Connected to Hanoi (capital of Vietnam) by the construction of the railway, the city of Kunming flourished in economy especially after World War II when factories established in the area. As important Chinese military center and American air base, Kunming's architecture developed rapidly and has still kept trace of this industrial past mingling with the Bai ethnic minority culture that tourists praise whenever they come here.

Kunming nowadays – Bai ethnic culture and rich natural sceneries of Yunnan

Kunming is the perfect city where tourists can enjoy different Yunnan ethnic minorities. Being home of the Yi, Bai, Miao, Dai, Hani and much more minorities, Kunming and its area are rich in cultural heritage and relics that all travelers may be looking for. While stopping in this capital city, do not miss the chance to see the popular pedestrian cobbled streets of downtown Kunming as well as the numerous temples and alleyways where little Bai craft objects, ivory or wood carvings, minority tie dyings are sold for the pleasure of every tourist. Lying in the Yunnan Province, the city of Kunming is surrounded by rich natural scenery of highlands, karst landforms, varied and exotic habitats, stone forests, etc... The local cuisine provided in little street restaurants and night markets, among which the rice noodles dish and the Yunnan Eight Pastries (dianbajian) are of the most typical dishes and just must-experiencing stuffs during a Yunnan trip. Visiting Kunming on your trip to China is a great chance to enter in the other world provided by South China, totally different from northern regions. Let's visit Kunming and its wonderful world!