About Kunming

Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province, as well the biggest town in Yunnan. It’s a city with history of more than 2400 years, now playing the role of the political, economic, cultural, scientific and traffic center of this province, as well one of Important Historical & Cultural Cities of China. Location of Kunming is in the middle of Yunnan-Guizhou Tableland, it has an altitude of 1891 meters in the center of town, facing the Dian Chi Lake in the south and surrounded by mountains on the other three sides. Due to the influence of warm and humid southwest monsoon from Indian Ocean, Kunming has more sunlight and shorter frost period, annual average temperature fluctuates around 15 degrees Centigrade. Temperate climate and evergreen vegetation bring Kunming reputation of City of Eternal Spring.

The popedom area of Kunming measures 21 thousand square kilometers, including Kunming City and other 8 counties, Population of residents is totaled at 6 million according to statistics at the end of 2005, of which around 3.5 million stay in town or county seats, and 800 thousand, around 13.5% is made up of 26 different ethnic groups.

Kunming is historied ctiy, since 30 thousand years ago it has been inhabited by ancestors of Yi and Hani, 2000 year ago it became a hinge on Southeast Silk Road linking Southeast Asian and inland Qing Empire, and 700 years ago turned into the political, cultural and economic center of Yunnan. Long history, unique geological configuration, mixed culture of Han and local ethnic groups, endowed Kunming quite many historical sites and spots of interests. Kuming is a place where both natural sights and cultural sights assemble. Famous tourism spots include Stone Forest, Western Mountain, Nationality Park, Golden Temple, Dianchi Lake, etc.

Like other provincial capitals in China, Kunming is also a very modern city with all-around facilities. As the center of traffic network in Yunnan, Kunming is a gate of China that opens to Southeast Asia. Kunming Airport is one of the five busiest airports through country, now is operating international airlines to Rangoon, Bangkok, Singapore, Hanoi, Seoul, regional airline to Hong Kong and more than 40 domestic airlines to other provinces or cities. Besides, 12 railways radiate from Kunming to our neighboring provinces like Guizhou, Sichuang and Guanxi, even Vietnam, road network starting from Kunming is even denser, highways extend in different directions to every corner of province and Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, the new road across northern Laos would even set up a continental bridge between Yunnan and Thailand.