Kunming

Kunming, also K’un-ming, formerly Yün-nan, city, southwestern China, capital of Yunnan Province. Located on Lake Dian Chi at an altitude of 1890 m (6200 ft), the city has a temperate climate often described as “eternal spring.” It is a commercial, industrial, and transportation center. Manufactures include steel and nonferrous metals, machine tools, chemicals, and cement. Copper, lead, zinc, and iron ore are mined nearby. A university and a medical school are in Kunming.

The city was founded during the Han dynasty (206bc-ad220), but did not become part of China until the 13th century. Known as Yün-nan or Yünnanfu, it was opened to foreign trade in 1908 and was renamed Kunming in 1913. Modern industrialization, begun during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-45), accelerated after 1949 with the construction of large iron and steel and chemical complexes. Population (2000 estimate) 1,701,000.