City guide · 昆明 Kunming
Kunming
The City of Eternal Spring on Dian Lake: the Western Hills, Daguan Pavilion and winter gulls
Kunming is the capital of Yunnan Province, a plateau city on the shore of Dianchi Lake, at an altitude of about 1,890 meters, with spring-like weather all year round, hence the name "Spring City." In two to three days you can cover the Haigeng Dam on Dianchi Lake, Western Hills Forest Park, Daguan Pavilion, Green Lake Park, Yunnan University, and Guandu Ancient Town, then leave one day for the Stone Forest. Kunming in winter has special guests: from November to March of the following year, black-headed gulls fly from the north to spend the winter at Dianchi Lake. Also worth visiting in the city: Dianchi Lake, Daguan Pavilion, Western Hills Forest Park, Green Lake Park, Yunnan University, Yuantong Temple, Guandu Ancient Town, Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways, Nanping Street, Yunnan Provincial Museum, Dounan Flower Market and Black Dragon Pool.
History
How the city came to be
The earliest record of the Kunming area dates to 279 BC, when Zhuang Qiao, a general of the State of Chu, led an expedition to the Dianchi Lake area, stayed there, and established the Dian Kingdom; in 109 BC, Emperor Wu of Han enfeoffed the King of Dian and established Yizhou Commandery. In 765, Geluofeng, King of Nanzhao, sent his son Feng Jiayi to build Tuodong City in what is now downtown Kunming, later renamed Shancheng, marking the beginning of Kunming's city walls. In 1254, the Mongols captured Shancheng; in 1276, the Yuan Dynasty established the Yunnan Branch Secretariat, with its capital at Zhongqing (Kunming), and from then on Kunming replaced Dali as the political center of Yunnan. In 1381, the Ming army campaigned in Yunnan, and the following year changed Zhongqing Circuit to Yunnan Prefecture and built a brick city wall, nine li and three fen in circumference, two zhang nine chi two cun high, with six gates. In 1910, the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway opened to traffic, and Kunming began to connect with the outside world via Vietnam and the sea; on December 9, 1949, Kunming was peacefully liberated.
- 279 BCZhuang Qiao entered Dian and established the Dian Kingdom.
- 109 BCHan established Yizhou Commandery.
- 765Nanzhao built Tuodong City, the beginning of Kunming's city walls.
- 1276Yuan established the Yunnan Branch Secretariat, with its capital at Zhongqing (Kunming).
- 1382Zhongqing Circuit was changed to Yunnan Prefecture, and a brick city wall with six gates was built.
- 1682Guanyin Temple began to be built in the Daguan Pavilion area (the origin of the predecessor of Daguan Pavilion).
- 1883The present Daguan Pavilion was rebuilt and survives to this day.
- 1910The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway opened to traffic.
- 1949Kunming was peacefully liberated on December 9.
- 1999The Kunming World Horticultural Exposition was held.
Trips beyond the city
These places can be explored from this city but lie outside it. See each place for transport and visiting guidance.
Dongchuan Red Land
A highland red-earth area at 1,800 to 2,600 metres, where red soil and crops form patchworks of colour, earning it the name "God's palette"; sun…
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Stone Forest (Shilin)
Dense clusters of limestone pillars in every shape make this Yunnan's best-known karst peak forest; the rock named after Ashima is its landmark.
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