Museums

Kunming, capital city of Yunnan province, also known as the Spring City, is blessed with a long standing history and splendid culture. As one of the first 24 historical and cultural cities in China recognized and announced by the State Council, Kunming has a cluster of interesting museums.

Here are some recommended museums in Kunming.

Yunnan Provincial Museum

云南省博物馆（yún nán shěng bó wù guǎn）

Yunnan Provincial Museum, set up in 1951, is the largest comprehensive museum in Yunnan province and is among the first batch of national first-level museums. The museum adopted a free admissions policy in May 2008 and the new venue of the museum was opened to public in May 2015.

The museum covers a total area of 150 mu (10 hectares) and owns an overall building area of 60,000 square meters. The exhibition area of the museum has reached 16,500 sq m.

It has a collection of 226,660 pieces of cultural relics such as bronzeware, ancient money, chinaware, ancient calligraphy, paintings and stamps. Five hundred and nine of the items are grade-one cultural relics.

Address: 6393 Guangfu Rd, Guandu district, Kunming, Yunnan province
Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm (no entry after 4:30 pm and closed on Mondays)
Ticket: free
Tel: +86-871-67286223 (for group visit reservation)
Public transportation: take bus 169, 252, a12, z84 and etc

Kunming Museum

昆明市博物馆（kūn míng shi bó wù guǎn）

Kunming Museum, covering a total area of 18,000 sq m and a building area of more than 20,000 sq m, opened its first phase in September 1997 and its second phase in December 2013.

Currently the museum has collected and exhibits various kinds of cultural relics such as bronzeware, dinosaur fossils, fans, porcelain and old photographs.

Address: 93 Tuodong Rd, Panlong district, Kunming, Yunnan province
Zip code: 650041
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 5 pm (no entry after 4:30 pm)
Ticket: free
Note: Group visits are required to make a reservation at least three workdays before visiting.
Tel: +86-871-63306314 (for reservations)
Fax: +86-871-63306314
Public transportation: take bus Nos 1, 62, 74, 109, 145, 117, A1 and etc

Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology

昆明动物博物馆（kūn míng dòng wù bó wù guǎn ）

Southwest China's Yunnan province, known as the Animal Kingdom, is abundant in wild animals. Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, constructed in 2000, was opened to the public in November 2006.

The museum has a building area of 7,350 sq m, displaying over 20,000 animal specimens. Its exhibition hall of specimens is the largest in scale and richest in collection in Southwest China.

Address: 32 Jiaochang East Rd, Kunming, Yunnan province
Zip code: 650223
Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays except during holidays)
Ticket: 40 yuan ($5.59), discounts are available with valid certifications
Tel: +86-871-65199680
Fax: +86-871-65190441
Public transportation: take bus Nos 146, 92, 115, 139, 83, 70, 55, 59 and etc

Yunnan Railway Museum

云南铁路博物馆（yún nán tiě lù bó wù guǎn）

Yunnan Railway Museum, opened to public in 2004, is built based on Kunming North Railway Station and showcases the history of railway development in the province, with a particular focus on cultural relics related to meter-gage railways such as well-preserved trains from different times.

Address: 913 Beijing Rd, Kunming, Yunnan province
Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm (ticket selling stops at 4 pm and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Ticket: 10 yuan (discounts are available with valid certifications)
Public transportation: take bus Nos 3, 23, 61, 71, 236 and etc or take Metro Line 2 to Huochebeizhan Station