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 Though
the plains of Yunnan were originally the home to numerous
aboriginal tribes, Chinese invasions over several centuries
pushed them into mountainous areas, where many ethnic groups,
direct descendants of those original tribes live today. The
powerful Tai kingdom of Nanchao held sway over Yunnan for
247 years, during the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907), but was replaced
by the Dali Kingdom in 937AD. For 300 years, Dali ruled supreme
until, in 1253, in was over-run by Kublai Khan's Mongol hordes
and assimilated into his growing empire. The take-over turned
out to have many positive effects. The capital was moved to
Kunming, trade with the rest of the empire stimulated the
local economy, living standards improved, and ethnic relations
harmonised. Kunming had become a prosperous city by the time
Marco Polo arrived, and was renowned for its skilled craftsmen.
During the 14th century, several hundred thousand troops,
civilians, and officials were despatched to the province by
the Ming Court to set up military outposts and reclaim land.
Agriculture, mining, and social development all benefited
from the influx of expertise. In the mid-17th century, Manchurian
troops occupied most of the central areas of China, and the
Qing Dynasty took the reigns of power in Yunnan.
China's national power was weakened
after it lost the Opium War in 1840, and Yunnan was yielded
to British and French imperialism - the French building the
Hanoi-Kunming railway line to exploit the province's resources.
The British occupied territory in northwestern Yunnan, and
forced China to concede territory in what is now the Myanmar
state of Kachin.
During the Sino-Japanese War (1937-45), manufacturing, education
and government bodies moved to Kunming, promoting the growth
of industry and the development of natural resources. Kunming
became major US Air Force base during WWII, and Yunnan was
a main transit route for allied supplies.
On October 1, 1949, Mao Tse Tung
announced the founding of the People's Republic of China and
Yunnan was peacefully taken over by Red Army troops under
General Lu Han on December 9, 1949. In March 1950, the People's
Government of Yunnan Province was established.
The Cultural Revolution and the Second Indochina War were
both trying times for the province, but - as with many periods
in its history - after taking the knocks, the province has
come back stronger than ever. Large-scale economic development
has taken place and great efforts have been made to increase
trading capacity, stabilise prices, and enhance living standards
in both urban and rural areas. With its forward-looking policies,
natural resources, physical beauty and tourist potential,
Yunnan is set for an impressive future.
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