The Kunming Flying Tigers Museum (昆明飞虎队纪念馆), covering an area of 320 square meters with a building space of 405 square meters and an exhibition area of 225 square meters, systematically introduces the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), also known as the “Flying Tigers,” and other related units during the period of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
The museum displays a rich collection of artifacts, including military caps and badges worn by Flying Tigers pilots, as well as a porcelain plate featuring a photo of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling against the backdrop of Flying Tigers aircraft. Additionally, the museum showcases the emblems and related information of the three squadrons of the AVG: the Adam and Eve Squadron, the Panda Squadron, and the Hell’s Angels Squadron.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 0.5 – 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00 |
Location and Transportation
The Kunming Flying Tigers Museum is located at No. 458 Beijing Road, Panlong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China, near the Kunming Museum. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 2, 23, 47, 71, 83, 89, 105, or 108, get off at Dongfeng Square (东风广场), and walk about 300 meters to the south to reach the museum.
Metro: The closest metro station to Kunming Flying Tigers Museum is Tangzixiang (塘子巷). After getting out of the station from Exit G, walk about 80 meters to the north to reach the museum.
History of Flying Tigers
On August 1, 1941, with the support of the United States government and at the invitation of the Chinese government, the first squadron of American volunteer soldiers was established and sent to the Sino-Burmese battlefield to fight against Japan. A year later, the United States Air Force Special Operations Command and the 14th Air Force successively arrived in China.
These three air force units were all commanded by the American Claire Lee Chennault, who was renowned for his bravery and strategic acumen, and achieved remarkable feats in combat, earning a fearsome reputation in the skies. They adopted the “Flying Tiger” emblem as their insignia, hence the name “Flying Tigers.”
The four-year history of the Flying Tigers is an important part of China’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the global anti-fascist war. Alongside units such as the United States Air Transport Command’s India-China Division, which operated the Hump airlift, and the United States 58th Bombardment Wing and Doolittle’s Raiders, which conducted long-range bombing missions on the Japanese homeland, the Flying Tigers bravely fought and made indelible contributions to the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. They are forever remembered and commemorated by the Chinese people.
