Kunming (昆明)

1. Introduction

Kunming City, abbreviated as Kun and nicknamed the "Spring City", is the capital of Yunnan Province of the People's Republic of China. It is the fourth-largest city in western China and an important regional central city in the western region, serving as the political, economic, cultural, technological, and transportation hub of Yunnan. It is a significant tourist and commercial city in western China and a gateway for China's opening-up to Southeast Asia and South Asia. Kunming is also a renowned historical and cultural city and an excellent tourist destination in China. Known for its pleasant climate, Kunming enjoys mild summers without extreme heat and winters without severe cold, characterized by a typical temperate climate. As a nationally designated historical and cultural city, Kunming boasts the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, the Stone Forest of Yunnan, the national scenic area of Dianchi Lake, the Jiaozishan National Nature Reserve, the Xishan National Forest Park, and numerous nationally protected cultural heritage sites. Covering an area of 21,013 square kilometers, Kunming had a total population of 8.4601 million in 2020. The municipal government is located in Chenggong District.

2. Etymology

There are multiple theories regarding the origin of the term "Kunming." Most scholars believe that "Kunming" was originally the name of an ancient ethnic group in southwestern China. In ancient Chinese texts, "Kunming" was written as "Kun," "Kunmi," or "Kunlin." Initially, it was not the name of a city but rather the designation for an ancient people who inhabited southwestern China, specifically the areas corresponding to present-day western Yunnan and southwestern Sichuan. The appearance of the term "Kunming" can be traced back to the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

The use of "Kunming" as a place name emerged during the Tang Dynasty. In the second year of the Wude era, Kunming County was established in the town, as it bordered the Kunming region to the south, hence the name. Here, "Kunming" still referred to the Kunming ethnic group, as prior to the Han and Tang dynasties, the majority of the Kunming people had settled in the western regions of Yunnan. It was not until the periods of the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms, with the rise of the Wuman and Baiman peoples, that the areas inhabited by the Kunming people were taken over by the Wuman and Baiman. Consequently, the Kunming people migrated eastward to central Yunnan, settling around Lake Dian. In 1254, after the Yuan Dynasty conquered Dali, the "Kunming Thousand Households Office" was established in Shanchan, marking the first appearance of "Kunming" as a place name, which has persisted to this day. Regarding the meaning of the term "Kunming," the Eastern Jin Dynasty scholar Chang Qu explained: "Among the Yi people, a large tribe is called 'Kun,' and a small tribe is called 'Sou.'" This statement can be interpreted as referring to the populous Kunming ethnic group.

3. History

3.1 Early Period

The earliest historical record of the Kunming area dates back to 279 BC, when General Zhuang Qiao of the State of Chu led an expedition to the Dianchi Lake region. Unable to return home after the State of Qin defeated Chu, he was forced to settle south of Dianchi Lake, "adopting local customs and dress," and established the Dian Kingdom. In 109 BC (the second year of the Yuanfeng era of the Western Han Dynasty), Emperor Wu of Han enfeoffed Chang Qiang as the King of Dian, granting him a golden seal, and established Yizhou Commandery, which governed 24 counties covering much of present-day Yunnan. The commandery seat was Dianchi County (located in present-day Jincheng and Chenggong, south of Kunming city). In 225 AD, Zhuge Liang's southern expedition also reached the Dianchi area, and it was renamed Jianning Commandery, which later came under the control of the Cuan clan.

In Records of the Grand Historian: Account of the Southwest Barbarians, Sima Qian wrote: "From Tongshi (present-day Baoshan City, Changning, Shidian, etc., east of the Nujiang River [4]) in the west to Yeyu in the north, the tribes are called Xi and Kunming. They all braid their hair, follow their herds in migration, have no permanent settlements, no rulers, and their territory extends for several thousand li."

3.2 Nanzhao Kingdom

In 765, Nanzhao King Geluofeng decided to expand his territory eastward and sent his son Feng Jiayi to build Tuodong City at the site of present-day downtown Kunming. It was later renamed Shancheng (meaning "second city" in the Bai language, sit zaind), also known as the Eastern Capital. This marked the beginning of Kunming's urban construction.

3.3 Yuan Dynasty

In 1254, Mongol Khan Kublai sent troops to capture Shancheng. In 1276 (the 13th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), the Mongol Yuan established the Yunnan Branch Secretariat, one of the 13 provincial-level administrative divisions nationwide, with its capital at Zhongqing (Kunming). From then on, Kunming replaced Dali as the political center of Yunnan.

3.4 Ming and Qing Dynasties

In 1381 (the 14th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty), Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang sent Fu Youde, Lan Yu, and Mu Ying with an army of 300,000 to conquer Yunnan, eliminating the Yuan Liang Prince regime. The following year, Zhongqing Circuit was renamed Yunnan Prefecture, and a brick city wall was constructed with a circumference of nine li and three fen (approximately 4,443 meters today) and a height of two zhang, nine chi, and two cun (approximately 9 meters today), featuring six gates. Subsequently, Mu Ying was tasked with guarding Yunnan. During the Ming Dynasty, large numbers of Han Chinese from other regions migrated to Yunnan, altering the demographic structure of the province.

The Southern Ming Emperor Yongli once entered Yunnan, with Kunming serving as the capital (or "Dian Capital"), continuing resistance against the Qing. In 1659, Wu Sangui entered Yunnan, forcing Emperor Yongli to flee to Burma. On June 1, 1662 (the 16th year of the Yongli era of the Southern Ming or the 15th day of the fourth month in the first year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty), Wu Sangui strangled Emperor Yongli in Kunming. For pursuing and killing Yongli, Wu Sangui was enfeoffed by the Shunzhi Emperor as the Prince Who Pacifies the West (Pingxi Wang) and stationed in Yunnan, expanding his princely mansion around Wuhua Mountain and Green Lake. In 1673 (the 12th year of the Kangxi era), Emperor Kangxi decided to reduce the power of the feudal lords, prompting Wu Sangui to launch a rebellion against the Qing from Kunming. In 1681 (the 20th year of the Kangxi era), Qing forces captured Kunming; Wu Sangui's grandson Wu Shifan committed suicide, marking the failure of the Revolt of the Three Feudatories.

During the late Qing period, from 1858 to 1868, Du Wenxiu, the Sultan of the Dali Kingdom, who had nearly occupied the entire province of Yunnan, besieged the isolated city of Kunming several times. In 1910, the French-built Yunnan–Vietnam Railway (now known as the Kunming–Hekou Railway) opened, allowing Kunming to connect via Vietnam and sea routes to other provinces of China. In the same year, the commercial Yaolong Electric Light Company imported two German water turbine generators with a total capacity of 480 kilowatts, hired German engineers, and built China's first hydroelectric power station—the Shilongba Hydropower Station—at Shilongba on the Tanglang River, the sole outlet of Dianchi Lake. In April 1912, the power station officially began supplying electricity to Kunming.

3.5 Modern and Contemporary Era

On October 30, 1911 (the ninth day of the ninth lunar month), Yunnan Army generals Cai E and Tang Jiyao launched the Double Ninth Uprising in Kunming, declaring Yunnan's independence. On December 25, 1915, Tang Jiyao, Cai E, Li Liejun, and others announced the Yunnan Uprising (National Protection War), opposing Yuan Shikai's proclamation as emperor, and organized the National Protection Army to launch a punitive expedition.

From 1927 to 1945, Long Yun, leader of the Yunnan Army and a member of the Kuomintang, controlled Yunnan for 18 years and was known as the "King of Yunnan."

After the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan in 1937, Kunming became a "major rear area for the anti-Japanese war." Many schools, factories (such as the Central Machinery Factory, Central Electrical Factory, Military Optical Factory, Steel Plant, No. 53 Arsenal, Electric Steel Plant, Textile Mill, Cigarette Factory), banks, firms, and refugees relocated to Kunming. Kunming's population grew from over 140,000 in 1937 to over 250,000 by 1945. The construction of the Yunnan–Burma Road (959 kilometers long) in 1938, along with the China–India Hump airlift, made Kunming a primary channel for China to receive international aid during the war and a transit hub for distributing supplies nationwide. Driven by transportation factors, the city rapidly modernized, profoundly influencing its subsequent urban development. From 1941 to 1942, the American Volunteer Group, the Flying Tigers, used Kunming as a base for aerial combat against Japan. Meanwhile, three prestigious universities—Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University—relocated to Kunming during the war, forming the National Southwestern Associated University, attracting a large number of renowned professors to the city. Between 1945 and 1946, anti-war student movements surged in Kunming, leading to the December 1 Massacre and the Li–Wen Murders perpetrated by Kuomintang agents.

On December 9, 1949, towards the end of the Second Chinese Civil War, Yunnan Provincial Chairman Lu Han announced in Kunming his defection to the Communist side. Kunming Mayor Pei Cunfan fled to Taiwan, resulting in a peaceful transfer of power in Yunnan. On March 28, 1950, the Kunming Municipal People's Government was established, with Pan Shuoduan serving as mayor. In 1999, Kunming hosted the World Horticultural Exposition.

From October 11 to 15, 2021, the first phase of the 2020 United Nations Biodiversity Conference was held in Kunming.

In May 2022, Kunming assumed trusteeship of Mohan Town in Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and the China–Laos Mohan–Boten Economic Cooperation Zone (Chinese section).

4. Geography

Kunming is located in the central part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, with the city center at an elevation of 1,891 meters. It borders Dianchi Lake to the south and is surrounded by mountains on three sides.

It features a low-latitude plateau mountain monsoon climate. Influenced by the warm, moist air currents from the Indian Ocean, Kunming enjoys long sunshine hours, short frost periods, and an annual average temperature of 15°C. The climate is mild, with no intense summer heat nor severe winter cold, making it feel like spring all year round. This pleasant climate has earned it the renowned title of "Spring City." From December to March each year, flocks of red-billed gulls, escaping the cold winds of northern seas, travel thousands of miles to rest and inhabit the city of Kunming.

The total area of Kunming City is approximately 21,473 square kilometers, with the built-up urban area covering about 460 square kilometers.

Kunming Meteorological Data (Average data from 1991–2020, Extreme data from 1971–2020)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|--------------| | Record high °C (°F) | 23.3 | 25.6 | 28.2 | 30.4 | 31.3 | 30 | 30.3 | 30.3 | 30.4 | 27.4 | 25.3 | 25.1 | 31.3 | | | (73.9) | (78.1) | (82.8) | (86.7) | (88.3) | (86.0) | (86.5) | (86.5) | (86.7) | (81.3) | (77.5) | (77.2) | (88.3) | | Average high °C (°F) | 16.3 | 18.5 | 21.8 | 24.3 | 25.2 | 25.4 | 24.8 | 25.0 | 23.5 | 21.1 | 18.7 | 16.0 | 21.7 | | | (61.3) | (65.3) | (71.2) | (75.7) | (77.4) | (77.7) | (76.6) | (77.0) | (74.3) | (70.0) | (65.7) | (60.8) | (71.1) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 9.3 | 11.5 | 14.8 | 17.8 | 19.6 | 20.7 | 20.5 | 20.2 | 18.8 | 16.2 | 12.5 | 9.5 | 16.0 | | | (48.7) | (52.7) | (58.6) | (64.0) | (67.3) | (69.3) | (68.9) | (68.4) | (65.8) | (61.2) | (54.5) | (49.1) | (60.8) | | Average low °C (°F) | 4.0 | 5.8 | 8.9 | 12.0 | 14.9 | 17.3 | 17.6 | 17.2 | 15.7 | 12.9 | 8.2 | 4.8 | 11.6 | | | (39.2) | (42.4) | (48.0) | (53.6) | (58.8) | (63.1) | (63.7) | (63.0) | (60.3) | (55.2) | (46.8) | (40.6) | (52.9) | | Record low °C (°F) | −3.3 | −1.6 | −5.2 | 2.0 | 5.5 | 10.8 | 11.6 | 11.5 | 6.2 | 4.0 | −0.8 | −7.8 | −7.8 | | | (26.1) | (29.1) | (22.6) | (35.6) | (41.9) | (51.4) | (52.9) | (52.7) | (43.2) | (39.2) | (30.6) | (18.0) | (18.0) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 23.8 | 11.9 | 19.6 | 25.4 | 80.1 | 173.1 | 215.7 | 195.9 | 119.3 | 82.4 | 30.1 | 13.7 | 991.0 | | | (0.94) | (0.47) | (0.77) | (1.00) | (3.15) | (6.81) | (8.49) | (7.71) | (4.70) | (3.24) | (1.19) | (0.54) | (39.02) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 2.9 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 12.6 | 15.3 | 14.4 | 9.7 | 8.6 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 86.8 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 223.6 | 223.9 | 253.3 | 252.2 | 217.2 | 148.0 | 122.6 | 142.9 | 127.1 | 143.2 | 191.5 | 195.4 | 2,240.9 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Kunming City administers 7 municipal districts, 3 counties, and 3 autonomous counties, and also governs 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

Municipal Districts: Wuhua District, Panlong District, Guandu District, Xishan District, Dongchuan District, Chenggong District, Jinning District County-level City: Anning City Counties: Fumin County, Yiliang County, Songming County Autonomous Counties: Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Luquan Yi and Miao Autonomous County, Xundian Hui and Yi Autonomous County Kunming City also manages Yangzong Town of Chengjiang City, Yuxi City, and jointly develops Mohan Town of Mengla County in cooperation with Xishuangbanna Prefecture.

In addition to the formal administrative divisions, Kunming City has established the following administrative management zones: National-level Kunming Economic and Technological Development Zone, National-level Kunming High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Kunming Dianchi National Tourist Resort, Kunming Yangzonghai Scenic Area, and the China-Laos Mohan-Moding Economic Cooperation Zone.

Administrative Division Map of Kunming City | Division Code | Division Name | Hanyu Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | | | | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------|---|---|---| | 530100 | Kunming City | Kūnmíng Shì | 21,013 | 8,460,088 | Chenggong District | 650000 | 81 | 42 | 16 | 4 | | | | | 530102 | Wuhua District | Wǔhuá Qū | 315 | 1,143,085 | Huashan Subdistrict | 650032 | 10 | | | | | | | | 530103 | Panlong District | Pánlóng Qū | 869 | 987,955 | Tuodong Subdistrict | 650051 | 12 | | | | | | | | 530111 | Guandu District | Guāndù Qū | 633 | 1,602,279 | Guanshang Subdistrict | 650200 | 10 | | | | | | | | 530112 | Xishan District | Xīshān Qū | 880 | 960,746 | Xiyuan Subdistrict | 650100 | 10 | | | | | | | | 530113 | Dongchuan District | Dōngchuān Qū | 1,866 | 260,744 | Tongdu Subdistrict | 654100 | 2 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | 530114 | Chenggong District | Chénggòng Qū | 510 | 649,501 | Longcheng Subdistrict | 650500 | 10 | | | | | | | | 530115 | Jinning District | Jìnníng Qū | 1,337 | 346,268 | Kunyang Subdistrict | 650600 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | | 530124 | Fumin County | Fùmín Xiàn | 1,060 | 149,506 | Yongding Subdistrict | 650400 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | 530125 | Yiliang County | Yíliáng Xiàn | 1,913 | 384,875 | Kuangyuan Subdistrict | 652100 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | | 530126 | Shilin Yi Autonomous County | Shílín Yízú Zìzhìxiàn | 1,680 | 240,827 | Lufu Subdistrict | 652200 | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | 530127 | Songming County | Sōngmíng Xiàn | 826 | 410,929 | Songyang Subdistrict | 651700 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | 530128 | Luquan Yi and Miao Autonomous County | Lùquàn Yízú Miáozú Zìzhìxiàn | 4,234 | 378,881 | Pingshan Subdistrict | 651500 | 2 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | 530129 | Xundian Hui and Yi Autonomous County | Xúndiàn Huízú Yízú Zìzhìxiàn | 3,588 | 460,739 | Rende Subdistrict | 655200 | 3 | 9 | 4 | | | | | | 530181 | Anning City | Ānníng Shì | 1,303 | 483,753 | Lianran Subdistrict | 650300 | 9 | | | | | | |

6. Economy

In 2022, the city's regional gross domestic product (GDP) reached 754.137 billion yuan, an increase of 3% over the previous year at comparable prices, with a two-year average growth rate of 3.3%. Specifically, the added value of the primary industry was 32.696 billion yuan, up by 4.4%; the secondary industry added 241.339 billion yuan, growing by 3.2%; and the tertiary industry contributed 480.102 billion yuan, an increase of 2.7%. The industrial structure was 4.3:32:63.7 for the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, respectively. Their contributions to GDP growth were 7.2%, 33.3%, and 59.5%, pulling GDP up by 0.2, 1, and 1.8 percentage points, respectively. The private sector achieved an added value of 302.879 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.4%, accounting for 40.2% of GDP. Throughout the year, the private sector's added value was 302.879 billion yuan, up 3.4% from the previous year, representing 40.2% of GDP. The city saw 274,300 newly registered market entities, an increase of 85,500 or 45.3% year-on-year. Among these, 91,100 were newly registered enterprises, growing by 31.8%, and 182,900 were individual businesses, up by 53.4%. The total number of market entities reached 1.2014 million, an increase of 19.6%. The annual consumer price index rose by 1.7% compared to the previous year. Specifically, food, tobacco, and alcohol increased by 1.6%; clothing by 0.6%; housing by 0.1%; household goods and services by 0.5%; transportation and communication by 6.0%; education, culture, and entertainment by 0.9%; healthcare by 1.6%; and other goods and services by 2.4%. The annual retail price index rose by 2.7% year-on-year. The annual general public budget revenue (on a comparable basis) was 61.457 billion yuan, a decrease of 13.6% from the previous year. Tax revenue accounted for 50.346 billion yuan, down by 10.7%, representing 81.9% of the general public budget revenue. General public budget expenditure was 86.327 billion yuan, a decrease of 7.0%. Among this, expenditure on people's livelihoods was 63.491 billion yuan, accounting for 73.5% of the city's general public budget expenditure. Throughout the year, 215,900 new urban jobs were created, and 41,300 laid-off and unemployed urban residents were reemployed. The year-end urban registered unemployment rate was 4.07%. Rural labor force transfer employment reached 117,100 person-times.

Kunming is striving to build itself into a regional international city opening up to Southwest China. Kunming enjoys a unique geographical location, situated at the intersection of the "9+2" Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Economic Cooperation Zone, the "1+1" China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Economic Circle, and the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Zone. With the opening of the Kunming-Bangkok International Highway, the planning and construction of the Pan-Asian Railway, and the implementation of major infrastructure projects such as the ongoing Kunming International Airport, Kunming's role as a "bridgehead" opening up to Southeast Asia and South Asia is becoming increasingly prominent.

Since the reform and opening-up, Kunming's economy has maintained a good momentum of rapid and healthy development, with its comprehensive economic strength ranking among the top in the western region. After years of development, five pillar industries have been formed: tobacco, mechanical and electrical equipment, biological resources, information technology, and commerce and tourism.

Agriculture has achieved sustained, stable, and coordinated development, with significant results in structural adjustment and distinctive features. Brands such as "Dounan Flowers" and "Chenggong Vegetables" have become well-known both domestically and internationally. The industrial sector has formed a system primarily based on machinery, metallurgy, and tobacco processing, making Kunming an industrial base in Yunnan Province and an important industrial city in Southwest China.

The tertiary industry's proportion in the national economy is increasing, with rapid development in commerce, tourism, information technology, and modern services. This has played an important driving and promoting role in the city's economic and social development. In 2008, Kunming's economic development showed strong momentum nationwide, and its economic situation and results were widely recognized across the country. In 2008, Kunming was awarded "One of the Top Ten Best Investment Cities for Zhejiang Merchants Nationwide" and, together with Chengdu, Dalian, Baotou, and Guangzhou, received the title of "2008 Best Investment City for China's Manufacturing Industry."

Nanping Street is a commercial street located in the city center of Kunming. Other commercial districts include Qingnian Road, Baita Road, the northern section of Beijing Road, Kunming Luosiwan International Trade City, Daguan Commercial City, and Xiaoximen.

7. Transportation

Kunming is a transportation hub in Yunnan Province and a gateway for China to Southeast Asia.

7.1 Railway

The first railway in Kunming was the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway (now known as the Kunming–Hekou Railway), built by France and connecting to Vietnam, which opened in 1910. The track gauge is one meter wide, making it a meter-gauge railway. Until 1966, this railway was the main channel connecting Kunming with the outside world, making Kunming the only provincial capital in China where "trains did not connect domestically but connected abroad," known as one of the "Eighteen Oddities of Yunnan." The Kunming–Hekou Railway is currently the only meter-gauge railway in China. Its starting station, Kunming North Station, is located in the northern part of Kunming city. There used to be one daily train to Hekou on the Sino-Vietnamese border and two weekly trains to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Currently, the railway is mainly used for freight, with passenger services largely suspended. The only remaining passenger service is the suburban train from Wangjiaying via Kunming North to Shizui, operating once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Due to the construction of Metro Line 4, meter-gauge trains 8861/2/3/6/9/8870 have ceased operation. The morning train departs from Kunming North Station to Wangjiaying, then from Wangjiaying via Kunming North to Shizui, before returning to Kunming North Station. The afternoon train only operates between Kunming North and Wangjiaying.

After 1966, several railways connecting Kunming to other provinces were successively opened, including the Guiyang–Kunming Railway (opened in 1966, with a total length of 640 km), the Chengdu–Kunming Railway (opened in 1970, with a total length of 1,100 km), the Neijiang–Kunming Railway, and the Nanning–Kunming Railway (with a total length of 900 km). Additionally, provincial lines such as the Guangtong–Dali Railway and the Kunming–Yuxi Railway were built. Kunming will serve as the southern terminus of the Pan-Asian Railway in the future. On December 28, 2016, the Shanghai–Kunming Passenger Dedicated Line and the Nanning–Kunming Passenger Dedicated Line were fully opened, marking Yunnan's official entry into the high-speed rail era.

7.2 Aviation

On June 28, 2012, Kunming Changshui International Airport was put into operation, and the original Kunming Wujiaba International Airport was closed on the same day. Kunming Changshui International Airport is a national gateway hub airport for China to Southeast Asia, South Asia, and connecting Europe and Asia. It is a key construction project during China's "Eleventh Five-Year Plan," a major urban infrastructure project in Yunnan Province, and one of Yunnan's twenty key projects. The airport is located near Changshui Village in Guandu District, Kunming, Yunnan Province, northeast of Kunming city, approximately 24.5 km in a straight line from the city center. The short-term plan is to meet the demand for 38 million passengers, 950,000 tons of cargo and mail, and 303,000 aircraft movements by 2020. The long-term plan controls an area of about 22.97 square kilometers. Kunming Changshui International Airport has newly built two parallel runways, each 4,000 meters long and 60 meters wide. The airport's flight zone is rated 4F, capable of accommodating and landing the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380. Changshui Airport operates international flights to destinations such as Bangkok, Sydney, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, Vientiane, Chiang Mai, Dubai, Mandalay, Paris, Vancouver, Osaka, Nagoya, Dhaka, Colombo, and Malé, as well as regional flights to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taipei, and hundreds of domestic flights to major and medium-sized cities across China. Several provincial flights connect to destinations such as Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Xishuangbanna, Zhaotong, Mangshi, Pu'er, Wenshan, Baoshan, Tengchong, Lincang, and Lugu Lake.

7.3 Highway

Kunming's highway system consists of the city's 2nd Ring Expressway, 3rd Ring Road, and the Kunming Ring Expressway, which was fully completed by the end of 2013. Additionally, it includes National Highways 108, 213, 245, 248, 320, and 324, as well as expressways such as G5 Beijing–Kunming Expressway, G56 Hangzhou–Ruili Expressway, G60 Shanghai–Kunming Expressway, G78 Shantou–Kunming Expressway, G80 Guangzhou–Kunming Expressway, G85 Yinchuan–Kunming Expressway, and multiple provincial highways.

7.4 Public Transportation

Public transportation in Kunming city primarily relies on buses. Bus routes now cover over 95% of the area within the 2nd Ring Road and most areas outside the 2nd Ring Road, with more than 200 routes. Kunming's buses are mainly operated by two bus companies: Kunming Public Transport Company and Kunming City Bus. The city has multiple bus lanes, such as those on Renmin Road, Guangfu Road, and Xifu Road.

Among them, Bus Route 236, operated jointly by Kunming Public Transport and Kunming City Bus on the Beijing Road bus lane, is Kunming's first bus rapid transit (BRT) route, equipped with multiple articulated buses. However, this route is not entirely a BRT as it lacks some BRT characteristics. During peak hours, this route operates with an average departure interval of just over 40 seconds. The route runs from the North City Bus Depot from north to south, traversing the entire city of Kunming, and arrives at the square in front of Kunming Railway Station, making round trips. Route 237 operates on the Renmin Road bus lane, and there is also Route A1 from Kunming World Expo Garden to Yunnan Ethnic Village. Other important bus routes include Routes 5, 1, 26, 52, 71, 84, 127, 129, 107, and 170.

7.5 Rail Transit

Kunming Metro Line 6 began operation on June 28, 2012, making Kunming the fourth city in western China to open a metro system, after Chongqing, Chengdu, and Xi'an. The first phase of Kunming Metro Line 6 connects the East Bus Station in the eastern part of Kunming city to the Airport Center Station under the terminal building of Changshui Airport, with the station hall located on the B2 level of the terminal building. The first phase of Line 6 is 18.018 km long, including 7.76 km underground and 7.633 km elevated. The line has 4 stations, including 1 elevated station and 3 underground stations. Among them, Dabanqiao Station and Airport Front Station do not currently serve passengers. The first phase began construction in March 2010 and started empty-load test runs on February 6, 2012. Operating hours are from 9:00 to 18:00 daily, with an interval of about 25 minutes between trains. The one-way trip takes 23 minutes, with a fare of 5 yuan. The second phase (from East Bus Station to Tangzixiang Station) opened on September 23, 2020, making the entire line operational.

Additionally, Kunming opened Metro Line 1 on May 20, 2013, and Metro Line 2 on April 30, 2014. Lines 1 and 2 run north–south through the main city, making Kunming the second city in southwestern and western China to operate three metro lines simultaneously. Kunming also opened Metro Line 3 (from East Bus Station to Xishan Park) on August 29, 2017. On September 23, 2020, Kunming Metro Line 4 began operation, with an orange-yellow color as its identifier. Line 4 runs from Puji in the west to Kunming South Railway Station (high-speed rail station) in the south, connecting the National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in the northwest, the central area of the main city, the National Economic and Technological Development Zone in the southeast, and extending south to Chenggong New District. Kunming Metro Line 4 is 43.4 km long, with 29 stations, 2 parking lots, 1 depot, and 1 newly built main substation. On January 15, 2022, Kunming Metro Line 5 officially began empty-load test runs. The line is 26.45 km long, traversing Panlong District, Wuhua District, Xishan District, Dianchi Resort Area, and Guandu District, passing through the World Expo Garden area, Yuanyong Park area, and the Convention and Exhibition Center area.

8. Education

8.1 Higher Education Institutions

• Public Undergraduate Universities (12)

Yunnan University (Double First-Class University Plan, Category B) Kunming University of Science and Technology Yunnan Normal University Yunnan University of Finance and Economics Yunnan Minzu University Yunnan Agricultural University Southwest Forestry University Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine Yunnan Arts University Yunnan Police College Kunming Medical University Kunming University

• Private Undergraduate Universities

Dianchi College Yunnan Technology and Business University Kunming College of Arts and Sciences Kunming City College

• Independent Colleges

Business School of Yunnan Normal University Jinqiao College of Kunming University of Science and Technology Haiyuan College of Kunming Medical University Wenhua College of Yunnan Arts University

8.2 Military Academies

Kunming Campus of the PLA Army Border and Coastal Defense Academy

9. Population

By the end of 2022, the permanent resident population of Kunming City was 8.600 million, an increase of 98,000 people compared to the end of 2021, representing a growth rate of 1.2%. Among the permanent resident population in 2022, the urban permanent resident population was 6.975 million, and the rural permanent resident population was 1.625 million. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 81.1%, an increase of 0.6 percentage points from the end of 2021.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 8,460,088. Compared with the 6,432,209 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 2,027,879 people over the ten-year period, representing a growth of 31.53%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.78%. Among them, the male population was 4,327,987, accounting for 51.16% of the total population; the female population was 4,132,101, accounting for 48.84% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 104.74. The population aged 0–14 was 1,267,713, accounting for 14.98% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 5,974,188, accounting for 70.62% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 1,218,187, accounting for 14.4% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 887,222, accounting for 10.49% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 6,740,458, accounting for 79.67% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 1,719,630, accounting for 20.33% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

All 26 ethnic groups of the province have some members residing in Kunming. The city's average life expectancy is 76 years.

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic population was 7,167,285, accounting for 84.72%; the combined population of various ethnic minorities was 1,292,803, accounting for 15.28%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 1,624,891, a growth of 29.32%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 1.45 percentage points; the combined population of ethnic minorities increased by 402,988, a growth of 45.29%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 1.45 percentage points.

Ethnic Composition of Kunming City (2020 Seventh National Population Census) | Ethnic Group | Han | Yi | Hui | Bai | Miao | Hani | Zhuang | Dai | Lisu | Naxi | Other Ethnic Groups | |--------------|-----------|---------|---------|---------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Population | 7,167,285 | 589,242 | 189,847 | 138,570 | 82,985 | 59,600 | 47,816 | 38,178 | 31,479 | 15,723 | 99,363 | | Percentage of Total Population (%) | 84.72 | 6.96 | 2.24 | 1.64 | 0.98 | 0.7 | 0.57 | 0.45 | 0.37 | 0.19 | 1.17 | | Percentage of Minority Population (%) | － | 45.58 | 14.68 | 10.72 | 6.42 | 4.61 | 3.7 | 2.95 | 2.43 | 1.22 | 7.69 |

10. Religion

Buddhism: Yuantong Temple, Qiongzhu Temple, Huating Temple, Caoxi Temple
Taoism: Taihe Palace, Longquan Temple, Zhenqing Temple
Christianity: Trinity International Church, Zion Holy Church, Kunming St. John's Church
Catholicism: Beijing Road Catholic Church

11. Culture

Specialties

Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles

Flower Pastry
Kunming Dog
Kunming Flowers
Flower Pastry
Lunan Fermented Bean Curd
Milk Cake
Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles
Rice Noodles
Erkuai (Rice Cake)
Wild Mushrooms
Steamed Cake with Lotus Root Starch
Yunnan Camellia
Yunzi Go Pieces
Ivory Carvings
Ethnic Clothing and Accessories
Yanglin Fat Wine
Cigarettes
Ham
Grilled Tofu
Spotted Copper Products
Batik Products

12. Sister Cities

As of 2023, Kunming has established international sister city relationships with 28 cities:

City Country Date Established Fujisawa Japan November 5, 1981 Zurich Switzerland February 17, 1982 Chefchaouen Morocco May 14, 1985 Denver United States May 15, 1986 Wagga Wagga Australia August 14, 1988 Cochabamba Bolivia September 25, 1997 Chiang Mai Thailand June 7, 1999 Mandalay Myanmar May 10, 2001 New Plymouth New Zealand August 11, 2003 Chittagong Bangladesh August 18, 2005 Jyväskylä Finland September 18, 2008 Yangon Myanmar December 1, 2008 Phnom Penh Cambodia June 8, 2011 Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka July 27, 2011 Vientiane Laos October 17, 2011 Yogyakarta Indonesia Approved on February 28, 2013 Antalya Turkey May 10, 2013 Pokhara Nepal July 8, 2013 Kolkata India October 23, 2013 Schenectady United States March 25, 2014 Kuching South City Council Malaysia Approved on August 25, 2014 Da Nang Vietnam February 6, 2015 Grasse France March 27, 2016 Olomouc Czech Republic August 17, 2017 Takayama Japan December 21, 2018 Dietzenbach Germany November 14, 2019 Gazipur Bangladesh Approved on October 12, 2020 Bukhara Uzbekistan September 13, 2022

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No. 1 Jinxiu Avenue, Chenggong District

Guandu District

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Magnolia tree

Camellia