Museums and galleries in Kunming

Museums and galleries in Kunming

1. See

   Burma Road History Museum

   滇缅公路历史博物馆

   A museum about the Burma Road. The museum was founded by Chen Daya, the author of a book about the Overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics who came to China to work on the Burma Road. The museum does not have a lot of artefacts, but has many photographs, illustrations and models. The most valuable and authentic item on display is an old case used for carrying items along the Burma Road. If you understand Mandarin, a friendly guide dressed in period costume can give you a free tour of the museum. A signed copy of Chen's book (published in Chinese only) can be purchased from the museum gift shop.

   Free

2. See

   Kunming City Museum

   昆明市博物馆; Kūnmíngshì Bówùguǎn

   A simple museum whose main attraction is a central pillar taken from an old temple (now destroyed) and other relics from the Dian Kingdom (a tribute state of the Western Song dynasty). A large part of the museum is taken up by a series of shops selling fossils/minerals (many of the fossils are fakes) plus overpriced Chinese paintings, textiles, porcelains and some furniture.

   09:30-17:00, no entry after 16:30·Free, including a tour

3. See

   Kunming Planning Exhibition Hall

   昆明规划馆

   A public exhibition hall presenting Kunming's urban development, construction achievements and future planning through models, multimedia displays and interactive exhibits. Free guided tours are offered at 10:00 and 14:30.

   Tu-Su 09:00-17:00; last entry 16:30·Free

4. See

   Kunming Pump House

   昆明自来水厂泵房旧址

   As a result of droughts parching Yunnan, the reservoirs surrounding Kunming are of vital importance. The specter of Kunming's taps suddenly running dry is of great concern for residents. The two-room "History Museum of Kunming Water Supply" (昆明市自来水历史博物馆) is inside the Green Lake Park, and is housed in the building that once pumped 1,000 m³ of water daily from Green Lake's spring-fed Nine Dragon Pond (九龙池) and along a 9.5-km network of municipal water pipes. The pump station was completed in 1917 and started operating in 1918. It continued to be used until 1957. The current museum still contains what appear to be the two original French-made electric water pumps, along with a small collection of old photos and other curios, such as tokens that could be used to buy water from any of the more than 50 public water taps that were part of the system.

   Wed-Sun 09:30-16:30·Free

5. See

   Kunming Zoology Museum

   昆明动物博物馆; Kūnmíng Dòngwù Bówùguǎn

   Anybody interested in Yunnan's animals through the ages could spend a couple of hours here. The museum is adjacent to, and indeed shares a compound with, a university science campus. The exhibits are arranged on five floors starting with dinosaurs, fossils and skeletons on the ground floor and working up to a tropical rain forest replica on the uppermost floor. There are sections with preserved fish and amphibians, stuffed animals and preserved insects. The exhibits seem to concentrate on creatures that are, or were, to be found in Yunnan. Most exhibits are labelled in English and Chinese but the longer explanations and information boards are generally Chinese only. Overall it is a pleasant, clean, museum with the exhibits well presented and usually well lit. It is not really an interactive museum; there is plenty to point at and peer at but not much to do. There is a small table offering mementos for sale but otherwise no shop. Nor is there any onsite catering.

   Closed · opens 9 am·¥40

6. See

   Yunnan Art Museum

   云南美术馆

   Occupies the building where the Yunnan Provincial Museum (listed below) used to be.

   Closed · opens 9 am·Free

7. See

   Yunnan Literature and Art Museum

   云南文学艺术馆

   An arts and cultural exhibition center presenting visual art, literature and other forms of Yunnan culture. It hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as cultural events.

   09:00-16:30; closed Mondays

8. See

   Yunnan Military Academy

   云南陆军讲武堂旧址

   The Yunnan Military Academy is a historic military academy that was founded in 1909 during the final years of the Qing Dynasty. It continued to operate after the Xinhai Revolution (1911) and was one of the most important military academies in China up until its closure in 1935. A number of prominent Communist military leaders received their training here. A museum at the site explains the history. The museum is in three sections with bilingual information boards and artefact labels.

   Tue-Sun 08:00-17:00 (academy), 09:00-17:00 (museum), no entry after 16:00·Free

9. See

   Yunnan Provincial Museum

   云南省博物馆; Yúnnánshěng Bówùguǎn

   A large museum containing artifacts from the past 2,500 years. The items presented are reasonably well lit and the interior is amazing. A slow stroll through the museum may take two hours. Descriptions are mainly given in Chinese. The permanent exhibitions are on the two upper floors, while the ground floor hosts temporary exhibitions.

   Tu-Su 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30·Free

10. See

    Yunnan Railway Museum

    云南铁路博物馆; Yúnnán Tiělù Bówùguǎn

    This is a smallish museum dedicated to the various narrow gauge railways constructed to link Yunnan with other places. These railways were brought into existence principally through French-Chinese collaboration but the equipment originated in various countries. The museum is in two sections: The first contains maps, documents, models, information boards and small artifacts. The information boards and artifact labels are generally in Chinese and English, but many of the copies of original documents and annotated drawings are in French and Chinese. The second section of the museum houses various locomotives and rolling stock. Non-commercial photography is permitted but, as both sections of the museum are poorly lit, a tripod might be useful. Railway enthusiasts can probably browse contentedly for an hour or two but small children and people with no interest in history or railways might find 15 minutes to be more than long enough.

    W-Su 09:00-16:00·Adults ¥10, children ¥5, one ticket provides access to both sections

11. See

    Yunnan University Wu Mayao Museum of Anthropology

    云南大学伍马瑶人类学博物馆

    Fascinating museum with an impressive collection of minority and Han artifacts from around Yunnan. Highlights include painted wooden torso armor of the Yi people, fearsome warriors of a traditionally caste society who historically controlled the mountainous region between Sichuan and Yunnan and whose queen was instrumental in negotiating the entry in to Yunnan of the Mongol Horde at the dawn of the Yuan Dynasty, ushering in the first real period of Han control thus beginning the widespread Sinification in Yunnan province. Unfortunately the showy modern glass presentation makes photography of some artifacts rather difficult.

    Reportedly closed during the university's summer and winter vacation periods·Free

12. See

    Zhu De's Former Residence

    朱德旧居

    Zhu De (1886-1976) was one of the Communist Party's most revered political and military leaders in the 20th century. Most notably, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Red Army during both the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. He also held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the People's Liberation Army during the Korean War. This residence was Zhu De's home from 1921 to 1922. It is now a museum with exhibits on Zhu De's life.

    Closed · opens 9 am·Free

13. Do Not mapped

    Jiuxiang Scenic Area

    昆明九乡风景区; Kūnmíng Jiǔxiāng Fēngjǐngqū

    This scenic area is 20 km² and includes five tourist attractions, Diehong Bridge (5 km southeast from Jiuxiang Street, famous for the karst caves, the twin waterfalls and the huge natural stone dam cluster), Dasha Dam (consisting of picturesque karst caves and thick forest), Sanjiao Cave (5 km north of Jiuxiang Street, famous for the karst caves), Alu Long [a scenic area 6 km west of Jiuxiang Street, famous for the excavated Yi Nationality cliff paintings of Qin (221BC-206BC) and Han (206BC-220AD) dynasties] and Mingyue (meaning the bright moon) Lake. Jiuxiang is known as the museum of karst caves, which boasts its caves as the largest in scale and number (there are about a hundred karst caves) and has the most wonderful in-cave scenes in China. The caves in Jiuxiang fall into four cave clusters: Sanjiao Cave, Dashang Cave, Diehong Cave and Dasha Dam Cave. 66 out of the numerous caves in the area are profitably exploitable and the karst cave cluster is the largest of its kind on Yunnan-Guizhou plateau. The caves in the area are praised for their grandeur, wonder grotesquerie and natural beauty. Jiuxiang, the birthplace of the aboriginal Yi ethnic people, has a strong minority custom color, a long cultural history, and widely spread old myths and tales. These include Hunting Festival, the Worship the White Dragon Festival, Love Song Contest, Bullfighting, Wrestling, Sanxian Dance (Sanxian is a three-stringed plucked instrument), Rattle Stick Dance and so on. Tourists should take enough clothes since they may get wet in boats when they visit the karst caves and the gorges. The folk songs and dances and the local food are also special. What is more, Yangzonghai Lake Scenic Spot and Little White Dragon Forest Park are not far from Jiuxiang Scenic Spot. Tourists can take buses at the gate of the Jiuxiang to go there.

14. See

    Yunnan Nationalities Museum

    云南民族博物馆; Yunnan Minzu Bowuguan

    1503 Dianchi Road, Xishan District (西山区滇池路1503号)

    Closed · opens 9 am·Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kunming (CC BY-SA 4.0).