The former site of the Yunnan Military Academy (云南陆军讲武堂旧址) is a site of profound historical and cultural significance, characterized by unique architectural styles. It stands as one of the most complete and largest preserved sites of modern military academies in China, with a rich and extensive history. Founded in 1909, it underwent several name changes and reforms and is now the site of Kunming Military Museum.
The educational methods and curriculum of the academy were largely influenced by Japanese models, gradually developing its own distinctive teaching characteristics. It played a crucial role in training military personnel, producing nearly ten thousand graduates. Amidst the tumultuous periods of modern Chinese history, the faculty and students of the Yunnan Military Academy made significant contributions to the nation’s independence and the liberation of the Chinese people.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of the Former Site of Yunnan Military Academy
- Vlog about Former Site of Yunnan Military Academy
- Attractions near the Former Site
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 16.00; Closed on Mondays |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0871-65395952 0086-0871-65341134 |
Location and Transportation
The former site of the Yunnan Military Academy is located at 22 Cuihu West Road, Wuhua District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. To get there, you can take bus 125 or 133 and get off at Provincial Library Stop (省图书馆站).
Highlights of the Former Site of Yunnan Military Academy
Architecture Style
The former site of the Yunnan Military Academy covers an area of 70,000 square meters. Except for the southern large playground and the instructor’s dormitory area converted for other uses, the buildings within the 30,000 square meters teaching area in the northern part, including the main building, auditorium, armory, bathhouse, etc., totaling 7,500 square meters, are generally well-preserved. The corridors inside the building connect the east, west, south, and north wings, totaling 480 meters, making it one of the longest interior corridors in China. Its grand scale and majestic architecture ranked it at the forefront of military academies in China at that time.
Centennial Military Academy Generals Exhibition
The Yunnan Military Academy History Museum features two permanent exhibitions covering an area of over 3,400 square meters, with more than 3,300 exhibits. The “Centennial Military Academy Generals” exhibition showcases nearly 2,000 items, including historical photos, military equipment, badges, commemorative coins, paper-based historical documents, daily necessities, and more. Rare exhibits include Marshal Ye Jianying’s graduation certificate from the military academy, the marshal uniforms of Marshals Zhu De and Ye Jianying, the “Step-by-Step Notes” (a textbook), and a cannon from the Guangxu period.
Exhibition on the Chinese Expeditionary Force
Based on the historical facts of the Chinese Expeditionary Force’s expedition to Burma to resist the Japanese invaders, the exhibition is divided into five parts: the Chinese Expeditionary Force’s expedition and battle in Burma, the retreat and confrontation with the Japanese along the Nu River, counter-offensive and victory, the contributions of the Yunnan people to the resistance against the Japanese in western Yunnan, and the military academy instructors and students in the Chinese Expeditionary Force. Through over 800 historical photos and 500 physical artifacts, the exhibition vividly depicts the history of Chinese troops and the people of Yunnan fighting alongside the Allied forces against Japanese fascism in the China-Burma-India theater of war.
