Yunnan University (YNU) is a National Key University in Yunnan province, China. Its main campuses are located in the provincial capital city of Kunming. It is a Chinese Ministry of Education Class B Double First Class University.
Founded in December 1922, Yunnan University started to enroll in April 1923. It began as a privately run institution called the "University of the Eastern Land" and its name has changed six times since then. Currently, Yunnan University is one of the "Project 211" universities in China authorized by the central government to be specially developed. Yunnan University has also been included on the list of the key national universities for the "China Western Development" program.
YNU is gained a worldwide reputation through the discovery and research of the Maotianshan Shales (especially the Chengjiang biota) in early Cambrian leader by professor Hou Xianguang, who was rewarded the first class of State Natural Science Award in 2003.
Due to the limited ability to expand in the center of the city, the university has recently developed a second main campus at Chenggong, roughly a 45-minute bus or subway ride from its original campus. Its first year of operation was the 2010-2011 academic year, though the campus has expanded considerably since then.
Donglu Campus (东陆校区), this is the old campus of YNU, which is located in the city centre near Cuihu Lake (Green Lake). It has many old buildings and status, for example the Huize building.
Chenggong Campus (呈贡校区), this is a new campus for YNU, which is located in University Town of Kunming, where is part of the Chenggong district. This Campus used in 2009 when first undergraduate student started moved into here from other Campus. This campus is a much larger campus than its counterpart at Green Lake, which is being retained as the focus of graduate study.
