Kunming, China

Kunming (Chinese: 昆明; pinyin: Kūnmíng; Wade-Giles: K'un-ming) is the capital of Yunnan province, China. It is located at the northern edge of the massive Lake Dian and has a population of more than four million. Because of its year-round temperate weather, Kunming is often called the "City of Spring."

A canal in the city centre. (2003-08-24)

Geography

Kunming is situated atop a plateau in Yunnan Province. It enjoys a protected location with mountains surrounding the city on three sides, and a lake to the south.

Elevation: 1900 meters (6200 feet) above sea level

History

Early townships in the southern edge of Dianchi (outside the comtemporary city parameter) could be dated backed to 279 BC, although long since lost to history.

In 765 AD, Tuodong (拓东) city was founded.

In the 13th century, Marco Polo is thought to have traveled to this area and written about his fascination. The city was renamed Kunming by the Mongol rulers of the Yuan dynasty in 1276.

In the 14th century, Kunming was retaken by the Ming dynasty, which built a wall surrounding present-day Kunming.

In the 19th century, Kunming suffered at the hands of rebel leader Du Wenxiu, the Sultan of Dali, who attacked and besieged the city several times between 1858 and 1868. Decades later Kunming began to be influenced by the West.

Economy

Kunming's economy was ranked 14th of all Chinese cities in 1992. The salt and phosphate mines around Kunming are some of China's best.

Colleges and Universities

[Public]

• Yunnan University (云南大学) (founded 1922)
• Kunming University of Science and Technology (昆明理工大学)
• Southwest Forestry College [1] (西南林学院)
• Yunnan Agricultural University (云南农业大学)
• Yunnan Normal University (云南师范大学)
• Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (云南中医学院)
• Yunnan University of Finance and Economics (云南财贸学院)

Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.