In the latter half of the ninth century the Bai Kingdom of Nanzhao, based around modern Dali, took Kunming (and the rest of Yunnan) after successfully defending itself from the Chinese Tang Dynasty's second major offensive in 754. After a time its power waned and in 902 it was overthrown.

The next major offensive was the Mongol Kubhlai Khan's - in 1274 he drove his troops through the province to usher in the Yuan Dynasty, towards the end of which the area became known as Kunming County.

In the fourteenth century, during the Ming Dynasty, Kunming became known as 'Yunnan Fu'.

Five hundred years later, in 1832, a traditional walled city was erected, only to be beseiged several times by Du Wenxiu, the self-styled Sultan of Dali, between 1858 and 1868. Around the turn of the 20th century Yunnanese opium trafficking (from Burma and the lands to the south) was a in full swing, and the European presence increased. The French held Indochina to the south, and English, American and Russian travellers, explorers, missionaries and doctors made their way in to the province. The French Indochina Rail Line was constructed from 1910 to 1913 to facilitate copper extraction, and ran 975km from Kunming to Haiphong, near the Red River delta on the coast of northern Vietnam. In 1928 Kunming was administratively reclassified as Kunming municipality.

In the subsequent decades Kunming was to witness both the flight of the Nationalists' troops toward Burma, and the ebb of Japanese empire, which finally crumbled in the surrounding region area after the American army built an air route ('The Hump') and land supply route ('The Stillwell Road') across the Himalayas to supply the Chinese army.

Once a remote outpost considered an outlying part of Chinese Empire, Kunming is now a burgeoning center of trade and tourism. Construction of a freeway to Bangkok for trade with the GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion) nations and the rest of Southeast Asia is well underway. Air links have been re-established with China's massive neighbour India, and nearby Bangladesh. There are even talks of re-opening a land route through Burma to better facilitate trade between the two giants.

Situated at a cool 1,891 meters, Kunming offers a mild but seasonal climate. Most winters pass without snow, and the summer months are comfortable. This pleasant situation has earned the city its Chinese nickname - the 'Spring City'.

Air Kunming airport is close to the south-east of the city, and provides direct links to all major cities in the region, including flights to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Singapore and most recently India and Bangladesh.

Bus Kunming's selection of bus stations provide routes to cities in or near the province, and the two train stations offer a cheap way to travel long distance.

Train Kunming has two major train stations. Kunming Train Station is located at the southern end of Beijing Lu, and has just been rebuilt. These days, it is arguably one of the most impressive train stations in China! The edge of the station also sports long distance buses. The second or North Train Station offers trains west along the line to Dali.

Taxis within the city have an 8元 flagfall, though the distance this will take you varies by company. Extra kilometres are generally 1.2元, and flagfalls rise during the evening.