Kunming

Kunming is a city located in the People’s Republic of China. It is the political and cultural capital of the province of Yunnan. This city covers and area of one hundred and twenty-seven miles and has a population of over three million people. The epicenter of Kunming is composed of five major roads and three squares. The city squares are Dongfeng Square, Jinma Biji Square and Nanping Square. And the major streets are Nanping Jie, Renmin Lu, Jingxin Jie, Jinbi Lu and Zhengyi Lu. The educational needs of the city are serviced by several universities which include Kunming University of Science and Technology, Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Yunnan University and Yunnan University of Finance and Economics.

Kunming is a prefecture level city that can trace its roots all the way back to the Neolithic era. But, it didn’t gain prominence until the Han Dynasty. It was during this time that it became the transportation hub of Southern China. Goods heading to and from India and Tibet had to pass through this town on their way to the capital of China. Originally, the name of the city was Yunnan. It retained this name until 581 when it was renamed Kunzhou. During the nineteen century, during the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the area was renamed once again to Kunming. It was also during this time that the city began to become the trade capital of the entire region. In 1858, Kunming would suffer immensely when the Sultan of Dali attacked the city over and over again during the next decade. It was during these attacks that much of the city’s wealth were lost. In 1937, Kunming would once again begin its growth into a major metropolitan area during the Second Sino-Japanase War. The city experience a sharp rise in immigration when the Japanese army caused a lot of Chinese to be uprooted from their homes in the east. Many of these refugees were prominent businessmen who dismantled their industrial plants and reconstructed them in Kunming, which was out of range of Japanese aircraft. There were also a few universities who relocated their operations to the city. These two factors allowed Kunming to develop into a major industrial center.

The economy of Kunming is ranked twelfth in terms of production and Gross Domestic Product when ranked among other Chinese cities. This city has an abundant supply of natural resources and very mild weather which contributes to its success. The primary industries of the city include copper mining, as well as the mining of lead and zinc. Other key industries of this city include machine tools, automobiles and chemical production. Because of its beautiful natural landscape and historical landmarks, Kunming is also beginning to become a prime tourist destination. As a result, tourism is beginning to become and ever increasing portion of the Kunming economy. This city is visited by over eight hundred thousand foreign tourist, and twenty-four million Chinese tourist each and every year.

Oddly, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kunming is not actually in the city. Its called Shilin or Stone Forest and its about eight-five kilometers outside the city and can be reached in a period of about three hours. This beautiful location contains many natural stone formations that look like animals, plants and even people. This location has been a popular attraction in Kunming since the Ming Dynasty. Back in those days it was referred to as the first wonder of the world. There are also many other stone forest and caves around this area. These include Stone Forest in Zhiyun Cave, Naigu Stone Forest, Strange Wind Cave, Penfeng Cave, Long Lake and Dadie Waterfall.

The next attraction of Kunming is located within the city and is called Dianchi Lake Scenic Area. This area is located in the southwestern portion of the city. The key features of this area include Dianchi Lake, Yunnan Ethnic Villages, Daguan Park, Haigeng Bank, Baiyukou Park, Xishan Forest Park and several temples. Dianchi Lake covers an area of seventy-four thousand acres and is a large freshwater fault lake. It has been called the ‘pearl on the plateau and is shaped like a crescent moon. Yunnan Ethnic Villages give tourist a unique opportunity to witness the various ethnic groups of the area. Visitors can also experience handmade crafts of the locals and taste their unique cuisine. Daguan Park was built in 1828 and features pavilions, bridges and rock gardens. Baiyukou Park is a beautiful park with many cherry blossoms and gardens all around. Also located here is Kwan-yin Hill, which was a popular Buddhist temple from the Ming Dynasty.

Another prominent attraction in Kunming is situated on top of Mingfeng Hill. This is a Taoist temple which is composed of copper and named Tongwa Temple. This temple was erected during the Ming Dynasty under order by Emperor Wanli. The entrance to this temple has a long, winding staircase that passes through a series of gates called the “Heavenly Gates”. Another temple in the city is the Heilongtan or Black Dragon Pool. The temple got its name from a story involving this great hero named Lu Dongbin. When Lu Dongbin was young, ten terrible dragons wreaked havoc on the city. Lu Dongbin slayed nine of them, but jailed the last one in the temple, where it suppossedly still lives today. In the front of the temple are three ancient trees from the Tang, Song and Ming Dynasties.

Other popular attractions and landmarks in the city include Bamei Village, Flowers and Birds Market, Qiongzhu Temple, Yuantong Temple and the Canals. Kunming is also home to Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center and Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Hall. There are also plenty of tea bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels located in the city proper. The city also has an extensive shopping district and host many fairs throughout the year including the China International Travel Mart and International Folk Arts and Craft Union, among others.