Yunnan Provincial Museum

Yunnan, abbreviated as Dian, is characterized by mountainous and plateau terrain. The northern part is an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, featuring massive mountain ranges such as the Gaoligong Mountains and the Yunling Mountains, as well as major rivers like the Nujiang River, Lancang River, and Jinsha River, where three rivers flow together. The southern part is the Hengduan Mountains. The Yuanmou Man, who lived in Yunnan 1.7 million years ago, is one of the earliest humans discovered in China and Asia to date. During the Xia and Shang dynasties, Yunnan was one of the nine provinces of China. In the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Yunnan was known as the "Country of Bai Pu." During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Zhuang Qiao, a general of the Chu State, led his army to seize the area west of the Ba and Qianzhong commanderies, reaching Dianchi Lake. After his retreat was cut off by the Qin army, he stayed in the Dianchi Lake area, historically known as "Zhuang Qiao's Entry into Dian." During the Qin Dynasty, the Five-Foot Road connecting Yibin and Qujing was built. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty defeated the Dian Northeast and the Dian-affiliated tribes, establishing the Dian Kingdom as Yizhou Commandery. During the Tang Dynasty, the Tubo entered the Erhai area, forcing the Tang Dynasty to change its approach to managing Yunnan, establishing military commissioners and supporting Nanzhao to unify the Erhai area. Yunnan Provincial Museum is a national first-class museum with six basic displays: Ancient Yunnan, Bronze Age, Dominance in Southern Central, and the Buddhist Kingdom of Miaoxiang, among others. Its treasures include the Bronze Case of Cattle and Tiger from the Warring States period. This is my third visit to Kunming. Last time, I mainly explored the Xishan Scenic Area, the Dragon Gate Grottoes, and Kunming Old Street. This time, I will first check in to the InterContinental Kunming Hotel. It's the Lunar New Year holiday, which is the perfect season to see seagulls. It's so beautiful. I took a walk to Haigeng Dam by Dianchi Lake to see the seagulls and also visited the Yunnan Museum, the Yunnan Nationalities Village, and the Guandu Ancient Town. I vaguely remember my first visit to Kunming, the Long United couplet at Daguan Pavilion and the shocking Dianchi Lake landscape. The 500-li Dianchi Lake rushes into view, and thousands of years of history flood into my heart. Raising a glass to the sky, I sigh, "Where are the rolling heroes?" Thinking of the Han Dynasty's practice of building ships and the Tang Dynasty's iron pillars, even broken steles and remnants are left to the misty smoke and setting sun, only to gain a few sparse bells, half a river of fishing fire, two rows of autumn geese, and a pillow of clear frost.