Decoding Cultural Confidence in City Samples | Continuous Context in Four Seasons of Spring - Decoding Cultural Confidence in Spring City Kunming - Red billed Gull | Kunming | Decoding

"The weather is often like February or March, and the flowers and twigs are always spring in four seasons." Yang Shen, a talented scholar of the Ming Dynasty, wrote in his poems the characteristic of spring all the year round in Kunming. His poem "The scenery of the Spring City is close to the Yuanxiao (Filled round balls made of glutinous rice-flour for Lantern Festival)", which first gave Kunming the elegant name of "Spring City".

Kunming, known worldwide for its four seasons of spring, has a profound historical and cultural heritage, with over 3000 years of civilization and 2300 years of city building history. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Kunming has protected its historical and cultural heritage, retained its unique charm, built a livable city based on natural mountains and waters, and accelerated its pace of opening up in accordance with the spirit of inclusiveness... The breath, color, and artistic conception of spring have filled the city of spring.

The sky overlooks the city of Kunming after the rain. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Wenyao

The City of Humanities: Continuing the Context

On the shore of Dianchi Lake, at the Hebo Site in Jinning District, Kunming, archaeologists are conducting archaeological excavations within the designated exploration area. The Shizhai Mountain, not far from the site, caused a sensation in the archaeological community in 1956 due to the discovery of the gold "Dian King's Seal". The "Dian" country recorded in Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian" reappeared after more than 2000 years of dust.

Since 2021, a large number of Han Dynasty bamboo slips and seals unearthed from the He Bo Suo site indicate that the central government of the Han Dynasty has exercised control over Yunnan, which is an important demonstration of the formation and development of a unified multi-ethnic country in China. Experts have determined that the Hebo Site is the capital of the ancient Dian Kingdom and the capital of Yizhou County.

Archaeologists are cleaning up bamboo slips unearthed at the Hebo site in Yunnan. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Wenyao

From the Warring States period to the Western Han dynasty, the ancient Dian Kingdom dominated the Dianchi area and later incorporated into the territory of the Central Plains dynasties. During the period of Nanzhao Kingdom and Dali Kingdom, Kunming was respectively called Tuodong City and Shanchan City, serving as the Eastern Capital. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed Zhongqing City and Kunming County was established as the provincial capital of Yunnan, which has been passed down to this day.

Strolling through Kunming, Yuantong Temple, Huating Temple, Kunming Confucian Temple, Jinma Biji Fang, Old Street... Everywhere, there are historical relics that record the influence of the Central Plains culture and deep ethnic cultural integration brought about by the policy of settling farmland and borders, and the migration of Han ethnic groups. They interpret how the former "barbarian land" rose to become a magnificent border city; The military academy of Yunnan Army, the "Double Ninth Corridor" commemorating the "Double Ninth Uprising", the National Defense Monument, Wujiaba Airport, Wenlin Street where the masters of Southwest United University gathered, and the "One Two One" Movement Memorial Square... let people feel the history of modern times and listen to the generous songs of the ancient city.

Located in the center of kunming city golden horse biji square night view. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Wenyao

After the outbreak of the full-scale Anti Japanese War in 1937, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University were forced to move south and settled in Kunming after several twists and turns. In the 8th year of the Kun Dynasty, the teachers and students of Southwest Associated University followed the school motto of perseverance and determination, full of the ideal of saving the country through science, and worked together to fight against the enemy. During the Anti Japanese War, a large number of students joined the army and served on the battlefield. After the victory of the War, the teachers and students of Southwest Associated University actively participated in the anti civil war democratic movement, writing a song and a tear worthy chapter of patriotism.

The General Secretary inspected iconic buildings such as the "December 1st" Movement Memorial Square, the original classrooms of Southwest Associated University, the Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial, and the Southwest Associated University Memorial along the way. He also visited the Southwest Associated University Museum to gain a detailed understanding of the history of Southwest Associated University in continuing the cultural heritage of the Chinese nation and cultivating talents for the country under the harsh conditions of the Anti Japanese War. He emphasized that education is closely linked to the future and destiny of the country.

This is the interior of the Southwest Associated University Museum. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Wenyao

Southwest Associated University not only inherits the history and culture of the Chinese nation, but also reserves a large number of talents for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, making it a significant contribution to the inheritance of Kunming's cultural heritage. The national spirit, educational spirit, and anti Japanese spirit it embodies are exemplary of the patriotic spirit of the Chinese nation, and have also forged and formed the urban character and culture of Kunming.

Culture is the soul of a city. In the new era, Kunming is striving to create cultural landmarks, distinctive cultural blocks, and aesthetic living spaces, continuing its cultural heritage, nurturing its spirit, and making Kunming more culturally refined and of higher quality.

Green and Beautiful City: Guarding Mountains and Rivers

"Five hundred miles of Dianchi Lake, rushing to the bottom of my eyes. Wearing a collar and a headdress, I enjoy the vast and boundless expanse..." On the north bank of the Caohai Lake, the Grand View Tower stands tall. The "Number One Long Couplet in the World" written by the Qing Dynasty scholar Sun Ruan is engraved on the main pillar, showcasing the beauty of Kunming's mountains and waters.

Kunming is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces water on one side. The lake and mountain scenery complement each other, making it a beautiful and natural landscape city. In terms of climate, Kunming has no severe cold in winter and no scorching heat in summer. It is as warm and pleasant as spring all year round, with blooming flowers and evergreen vegetation, making it a world-renowned "Spring City" and "Flower City".

During the reign of Yuan Dynasty politician Sai Dianchi and Su Siding in Yunnan, Kunming was flourishing with the construction of water conservancy, agriculture, post stations, and schools. Italian traveler Marco Polo lamented that Kunming is a "magnificent city" with a large number of businesses.

In the Ming Dynasty, Wang Zhanhai presided over the construction of Kunming City, which took 8 years to complete. From then on, Kunming city formed a landscape pattern of "three small mountains and one water".

Surrounded by fragrant rice, vast expanses of clear sand, nine summers of hibiscus, and three springs of willows... Throughout history, talented poets and scholars have wandered through the mountains and rivers of Kunming, leaving behind works of singing. Good mountains, good waters, and good seasons, generations of Kunming people are proud of the city they live in.

At one point, due to the pursuit of economic development, Dianchi Lake was severely polluted. After unremitting treatment, the water quality of Dianchi Lake has been restored from poor five categories to four categories. Seaweed, golden barbel, and colorful ibis have reappeared in Dianchi Lake, and the plateau pearl has regained its radiance.

Since 1985, Siberian red billed gulls have been arriving every winter as scheduled. Surrounding Dianchi Lake and Cuihu Park, thousands of gulls fly and visitors flock, making it the most charming landscape in Kunming in winter and spring.

On March 12, tourists fed red-billed gulls at the Haigeng dam in Kunming. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Xinbo

In March of this year, when the red billed gull returned to the north, 46 year old Kunming resident Liu Biheng brought his child to the Haigeng Dam in Dianchi Lake to bid farewell to the red billed gull. He said, "I once followed my parents to see the red billed gull, and now I bring my child here, hoping that they will learn to love the red billed gull, nature, and our city from a young age."

"Dianchi Lake is a gem inlaid in Kunming." in January 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during an inspection and investigation in Kunming that it is necessary to show the strength of sticking to the green mountains and not relaxing, and in accordance with the concept that mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes and grasses are a community of life. we will strengthen comprehensive management, systematic management, and source management, and make persistent efforts to do a better job in the management of Dianchi Lake.

Following the direction guided by the General Secretary, creating a "green and beautiful spring city" to make the city more beautiful and livable has now become the consciousness of Kunming citizens.

At dawn, citizen Li Yunli arrived at the edge of Dianchi Lake and carried an iron boat to the lake to salvage garbage and floating debris. She grew up by the Dianchi Lake and was the captain of the local women's salvage team. The salvage team had been established for more than 30 years, and the team members changed one after another. Li Yunli has always been there. She said, "More and more people are realizing the importance of protecting Dianchi Lake, and more and more young people are joining our team."

On March 20, Li Yunli led the women's salvage team to row to Dianchi Caohai to carry out salvage work. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Xinbo

Green is the distinct background color of Kunming, the city of spring. Kunming is taking the construction of a park city as the guide and the three-year action plan for urban and rural greening and beautification as the focus, to create a park city that showcases Yunnan's characteristics and the characteristics of a spring city.

Open City: Embracing the World

On the morning of June 1st this year, a special train carrying dozens of cold chain containers loaded with Thai durians and mangosteens slowly entered China Railway Union Kunming Central Station. After arriving at the station, measures such as priority unloading, priority delivery, and priority container pickup will be taken to ensure timely distribution throughout the country.

On April 19, cold chain containers loaded with tropical fruits from Thailand and other places arrived at Kunming East Station. Xinhua News Agency

The China Laos Railway witnessed the pace of Kunming's opening up. By the end of 2021, the China Laos Railway will be completed and opened to traffic. As of June 3 this year, 16.4 million passengers and 21 million tons of goods have been sent, highlighting the role of the "golden channel".

Kunming, located in the southwest corner, has a long history of opening up and communication with the outside world.

Among the bronze shell storage vessels unearthed from the tombs of nobles in ancient Yunnan, there are a large number of shell coins produced in the Indian Ocean; The bronze drum, originating from ancient Yunnan, has been found in many countries such as Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar, indicating that ancient Yunnan has close economic, trade, and cultural exchanges with Southeast Asia and South Asia.

Four oxen gold knight bronze shell storage device exhibited at the Yunnan Provincial Museum. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Dongshu

Kunming is also an important stop on the ancient "Beibi Road" and "Tea Horse Ancient Road". Shuncheng Street in Kunming was first built during the Yuan Dynasty and served as a distribution center for horse gangs along the Southern Silk Road and Tea Horse Ancient Road during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the late Qing Dynasty, French officials stationed in China captured footage of escort agencies escorting horse caravans to rest here.

In 1930, 25-year-old American journalist Edgar Snow came to Kunming and wrote, "This city is a convergence point of many roads, serving as both the endpoint of a railway and the starting point of several caravan journeys."; It is both the last and earliest point of contact between the East and the West; It is both the gateway to ancient Asia and the gateway to China's barren border.

Above: In the late Qing Dynasty, French official Fang Suya took a photo of the escort escort escort caravan in Shuncheng Street. The following picture shows the scene of Kunming Shuncheng Street Shopping Center taken on June 15. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Wenyao

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Kunming, as an important rear area, attracted the attention of the world. The Yunnan Vietnam Railway, Yunnan Myanmar Highway, China India Highway, and the Camel Route, which were closely related to Kunming, played an irreplaceable role during the War of Resistance Against Japan.

Openness, integration, and progress are the urban genes and spiritual temperament of Kunming.

On December 28, 2016, a silver bullet train departed from Kunming South Station, flying at a speed of 2252 kilometers, crossing most of China, and arrived in Shanghai in 10 hours. On that day, the Guiyang North to Kunming South section of the Shanghai Kunming high-speed railway was completed, marking Yunnan's connection to the national high-speed railway network, and China's "four vertical and four horizontal" high-speed railway network was basically formed.

In recent years, Yunnan has served and integrated into the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" and accelerated the construction of China's radiation center facing South Asia and Southeast Asia. As the core area of the radiation center, Kunming is committed to building a regional international center city. The door to opening up to the outside world is getting bigger and bigger, from "ringing bells in the mountains" to "connecting the river and the sea to connect the world". Kunming's infrastructure to surrounding countries is constantly improving, and Kunming's airport routes reach all the capitals of South and Southeast Asian countries

In October 2021, the first phase of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity was held in Kunming. The conference issued the Kunming Declaration, calling on all parties to take action and jointly build a community of life on Earth. In 2022, the second phase of the conference held in Canada adopted the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Kunming joins hands with the world to contribute to global biodiversity conservation.

Spring melts all things, giving birth endlessly. The ancient and vibrant Kunming is embracing the world with a new and open attitude.

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