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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.

Address: 22 Cui Hu West Road, Wuhua District (五华区翠湖西路22号)
Getting there: near the west gate of Green Lake Park; nearby bus stops include the Provincial Library (省图书馆), which is served by bus routes 125 and 133 and the Science and Technology Museum (科技馆), which is served by bus routes 100, 101, 124, 133, 235 and z5
Hours: Tue-Sun 08:00-17:00 (academy), 09:00-17:00 (museum), no entry after 16:00
Price: Free
Website: yunnanmilitaryacademymuseum.com (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Kunming, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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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 09:30-16:30Free
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Kunming Walk
Kunming Walking Tours
Small-group guided walking tour (up to 6 people) through Green Lake (Cuihu) and the old university quarter, focusing on Kunming's history of foreign influence. Covers the French-built Yunnan–Vietnam railway, a poet and professor turned activist Wen Yiduo, and the wartime National Southwestern Associated University (Lianda) where two future Nobel laureates studied. In English. Book via the website.
Wed & Sat 10:00, 3 hours; other days by appointment$30 per person
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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 periodsFree
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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 amFree