Kunming

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Kunming

Kunming () is the capital of Yunnan province, China with a population estimated on 1,055,000 in 2006 (agglomeration 2,400,000.) It is located at the northern edge of the massive Lake Dian. Because of its year-round temperate weather, Kunming is often called the "Spring City (春城)." It is a sister city to Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Australia, Denver, Colorado and Zürich, Switzerland.

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 perimeter) can be dated back 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.

Father Ma Yingling became a Catholic bishop in Kunming 30 April 2006 despite protest from the Vatican.

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. Because of its location in the remote corner of China, Kunming has generally been ignored by China’s rapid economic growth in the 1990s. However, recently the city has received renewed attention, launching Kunming into an international hub that China desperately needs to access different areas of South and Southeast Asia. Several railroads and highways have been planned to connect Kunming to areas of Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos, providing Kunming access to sea ports. Kunming economic authorities are active participants in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS), promoting trade throughout China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar ^*, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Colleges and universities

Yunnan University (云南大学) (founded 1922)
Kunming University of Science and Technology (昆明理工大学)
Southwest Forestry College ^* (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)
Kunming Medical College (昆明医学院)

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