The city of Kunming has become more and more modern, and when exploring among the hustle and bustle of the city you might discover some vintage style sites you never cease observing. These sites hidden in the city and dwarfed by skyscrapers include exotic Western buildings and Chinese traditional courtyards constructed as villas and mansions for politicians in Kunming during the period of the Republic of China (1912-1945). Visiting one or tow of them, you can get a nostalgia, historical feel. 

 

Family Tang's Garden

Add: Beimen St, Kunming

It is next to the Yuantong Mt Park, making a complex together with the mansion of Tang Jiyao (1883-1927) who was once the military governor of Yunnan Province during the Republic of China. The gate is a Chinese traditional archway designed with Western style pillars. In the 1990s, the archway was shifted to Cuimingyuan Garden at Beimen Street, and the Family Tang's Garden had already enjoyed a wide fame early in the 1920s. 

The magnificent tomb of Tang Jiyao, Yuantong Mt Park

 

Zhenzhuang Hotel

Add: 514 Beijing Rd., Kunming

Zhenzhuang Hotel at the very beginning was the mansion of Long Yun (1884-1962) who was once the provincial governor of Yunnan and is called "King of Yunnan" by many. Long Yun was born in Zhaotong in the northeast of Yunnan and was a senior general of Yunnan military during the Republic of China. During his reign over Yunnan for 18 years, he once led over 200,000 Yunnan soldiers to fight against Japanese invasion. In 1936, he selected the site at the Panlong River bank to construct the Zhenzhuang Hotel. After the foundation of the People's Republic of China, Yunnan Provincial Government enlarged the Hotel and made it a state guesthouse to accommodate important officials. Since then, Zhenzhuang Hotel ushered in a new phase of glorious history.

 

The Mansion of Lu Han

Add: 4 Cuihu South Rd., Kunming
The mansion of Lu Han (1895-1974), who was once the provincial governor of Yunnan during the Republic of China, is located beside the Green Lake in the downtown of Kunming. Designed in the French style, the mansion is said to be the masterpiece of architects and builders who were from the French colony Vietnam. 

 

The roof truss of the two-story building is a steel frame, and the major construction materials are tiles, woods and stones. As a whole, the most advanced architecting techniques were used at that time. The inner decors including imported floor bricks and float glasses have reflected the elegant taste of Lu Han. During the reign of Lu Han over Yunnan, many critical meetings were held in the mansion which was in fact the political, economic and military centre of Yunnan at that time. 

 

The Former Residence of Zhu De

Add: 3 Xiaomeiyuan Alley, Shuijinggong, Huashan West Rd., Kunming
The main building of the residence is two-story designed in earth and wood structure combining Chinese and Western styles. In 1921, Zhu De (1886-1976) ,  one of the great 10 marshals of the PRC, bought this building after attending the State-Protecting Movement and named it Jieyuan. He himself planted bamboos and chrysanthemums in the garden. Zhu De handed it over to the People's Government of Yunnan Province after the PRC was established.  In 1994, the residence was repaired, and an exhibition hall was set up inside.

 

Jingyuan Garden

Add: Panlong river bank, Houxin St., Kunming
A garden style courtyard constructed about a dozen years ago gives people a feel of nobility featuring quiet walkways, winding cloisters, pavilions and pergolas. The major part of the garden is the Panlong Pavilion dotted with green trees and colourful flowers. Most importantly, the construction site of the garden is precisely on the axis of the East and West pagodas, implying auspiciousness and prosperity. 

 

The Stone House

Add: Chahua Park, 66 Shangyi St., Kunming
First built in 1937, the stone house was the mansion of Li Hongmo (1870-1943) , a patriotic military leader and the adjutant of Long Yun during the Republic of China. In 2002 when the Chahua (Camellia) Park was established, the mansion was named Stone House.

 

The Mansion of Zhou Zhongyue

Add: Xiaojipo, Green Lake Park
Zhou Zhongyue (1876-1955), who was once the provincial governor and director of education department of Yunnan during the Republic of China, was a government-sent international student in Japan during the Republic of China. The building is designed in a novel, symmetrical manner, with its white wall and grey stone basement giving people a feeling of steadiness, the creepers on the wall adding much to the vitality of the building, and the pure wood inner decor offering a feel of conciseness.