The region of Kunming has been inhabited for 20000 years. Tomb
excavations around Lake Dian to the south of the city have unearthed
thousands of artefacts from that period -- weapons, drums, paintings,
and silver, jade and turquoise jewelry - that suggest a well-developed
culture and provide clues to a very sketchy early history of the
city. Unit the 8th century the town was a remote Chinese outpost,
but the kingdom of Nanzhao, centred to the northwest of Kunming
at Dahi, captured it and made it a secondary capital. In 1274 the
Mongols came through sweeping all and sundry before them. Marco
Polo, who put his big feet and top hat in everywhere, gives us a
fascinating picture of Kunming's commerce in the late 13th century.
