Yunnan Provincial Museum



Located in the center of Kunming City, Yunnan Provincial Museum is a comprehensive museum. With
multitudinous material objects of anthropology, ethnology and archaeology about Yunnan, it is an important
base for anthropology study and education of patriotism and historical materialism, and an ideal place for
tourists to understand Yunnan. 

Yunnan is regarded as the “Province of Ethnic Minority Culture”. Archaeological excavations have already
uncovered evidence regarding the historical diversity of Yunnan’s culture and the ancient cultural
convergence of the differing nationalities in the province.

Yunnan Provincial Museum was completed and put into use in 1964. It is a 40-meter-tall building of tower
style. The main building has seven stories and the buildings on both sides are three-storied. From the first to the third floor are the exhibition halls
covering an area of 4,200 square meters. In the front there are 12 round columns. The golden poles and red stars on the roof are shining brightly. 

For over 50 years, the Yunnan Provincial Museum has undertook many years of archaeological excavations, surveys, collection, purchases from
the community and has received many public donations of: bronze ware, ceramics, ancient books, calligraphy and rubbings, postage stamps as
well as many different kinds of folk art and handicrafts. The number of objects in its collections has already exceeded 156,000 pieces, the largest
collection of its kind. Within the many thousands of valuable pieces, over 1,000 have been recognized as first-class national treasures.

The most unique pieces in the museum’s collection are the bronze ware of the Dian Kingdom, the Buddhist cultural artifacts from the Nanzhao and
Dali periods, and the many extraordinary contemporary pieces of folk art of the ethnic minority groups.

Exhibitions, collections and research are the three main specializations of the Yunnan Provincial Museum.
Furthermore, the museum is the foremost organization in the entire province for the exhibition of cultural
relics. Drawing on its abundant collection, the museum has held exhibitions of wide-ranging themes and
content. These exhibitions have comprehensively and systematically showcased the social and cultural
history of Yunnan, as well as achieving universal acclaim from the community.