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Kunming
The City
Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province. Its history dates
back for more than 2,000 years. In its early centuries the town was a Chinese
military garrison. When the Kingdom of Nanchao became the dominant
power in Yunnan, Kunming was conquered and made a secondary capital of
Nanchao. The primary capital of Nanchao was Dali, to the north-west
of Kunming.
In 1274, Kunming, and the whole Kingdom of Nanchao, was
taken by Kublai Khan's Mongol hords.
After the demise of the Kingdom of Nanchao, Kunming again became a Chinese
town, then known by the name of Yunnanfu. The Ming Dynasty fortified
Kunming, building a wall around it. For the next 300 to 400 years, Kunming
had been, on several occasions, the battleground for conflicting Chinese
dynasties.
During the Muslim rebellion in Yunnan in the years 1858 to 1868
Kunming was attacked several times by the forces of the Sultan of Dali,
Du Wenxiu. Many of the buildings were destroyed and many of Kunming's
inhabitants were killed.
In the middle of the 19th century, European imperialist
powers became interested in Kunming. By that time, the British were
already well established in Burma, the French in Indochina.
Especially the French wanted to exploit the natural resources of Yunnan,
as well as the substantial trade potential. When, in the early 20th
century, Kunming and several other cities in Yunnan and other regions of
South China were opened to foreign trade, the French built a railway
from Indochina to Kunming.
Kunming importance grew during World War II when a large number
of Chinese internal refugees, fleeing the Japanese aggression, arrived
in the city. The nationalist Chinese forces, the Kuomintang under
Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek, who were entrenched in Yunnan and
the neighboring Sichuan province, were heavily supported by the Western
Allied Powers, and a lot of arms and economic support were brought
to Kunming. The supplies were first transported on dirt roads from Burma
and later flown into Kunming.
Kunming today has a population of around 1 million. The city
offers a number of sightseeing spots but what makes it attractive, and
different from much of Southeast Asia, is the city's climate, as
well as some old parts of town.
Kunming is located some 1,900 meters above sea level and has
mild weather throughout the year. During the winter months nights are cooler
and it is recommended to bring some warmer clothes.
More information on Kunming:
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