www.colincampbell.org all text copyright colin w campbell
kunming and yunnan
Kunming is the bustling, now mostly very modern, capital of southwest China's frontier province of Yunnan. Population is over 4 million with one million in the city proper (compare Greater Glasgow 900,000 and 600,000 in the city itself). The pace of development is such that Kunming's total population is expected to pass the 8 million mark by 2020.
This is the home of resourceful and friendly people where the ultra modern rubs shoulders
with the traditional. Helped by a near 2,000 metre altitude and favourable topography,
it is known as the 'City of Eternal Spring' on account of its gentle climate. It
is not too hot in summer nor too cold in winter. Kunming's hardy citizens often consider
heating or air conditioning unnecessary though warmer clothes do go on for the colder
months. Everything seems to grow well here and there are fine gardens and parks.
Dianchi Lake reaches right into the south western suburbs.
Long well known within China as a major domestic tourist destination, Kunming with
its international airport is now becoming better known on the world stage not least
in it's role as a major gateway to and from Southeast Asia.
In ancient times the
southern Silk Road (also known as the horse and tea road) passed through Kunming.
The city was once home to one of the world's truly great navigators, explorers and
diplomats for 600 years ago in the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He's epic voyages did much
to influence China's relationships with Southeast Asia and beyond.
More recently during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Kunming was
at one end of the Burma Road and the air supply operation known as the 'hump'. It
was also from Kunming that the Flying Tigers launched many of their sorties.
Yunnan, population 43 million (UK 60 million), area 394,000 square km (UK 244,000 square km), is a particularly beautiful part of the world and well known its abundant natural resources. This is a place of landscapes, mountains, rivers, valleys, plants, rare animals and legends. Its 26 minority peoples endow it with a wealth of cultural tradition.
Shangrila, Lijiang, and Dali are especially popular among visitors.
However Yunnan
is not just for the tourists. For example, Local Government here has done much to
promote and develop IT related industries and to create the first class infrastructure
that is so necessary for the drive towards modernization.
The province has internal borders with Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Tibet.
It has
international borders with Myanmar (Burma), Lao, and Vietnam.
Yunnan is home to many
people from China's ethnic minorities including the Yi, Bai, Hani, Zhuang, Dai, Miao,
Lisu, Hui, Lahu, Va, Naxi, Yao, Tibetan, Jingpo, Blang, Pumi, Nu, Achang, Jino, Mongolian,
Drung, Manchu, Shui, Bouyei, (and Colin).
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news
Internet Info Center
Peoples Daily
China Daily
Xinhua
CCTV
tourism
China
Yunnan
Shangri-la
Lijiang
Dali
Stone Forest
china: news and information
