In the main campus of the Yunnan Normal University. There are historical remains of former National Southwestern Associated University (國立西南聯大, 1938-1946). When the Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, Peking University, Tsinghua University and Nankai University moved to inland, and united in Changsha (in Hunan Province) to form Changsha Temporary University. As Japanese forces were gaining more territory, they bombed Changsha in 1938. Eight hundred staff faculty and students made the 1,000 mile journey walking to to Kunming, re-established the University, and changed its name to the Southwest Associated University. During those years, subject to bombing by the Imperial Japanese Air Force and shortages of food and books, teachers and students of the Southwest Associated University. _ did their best to conduct a modern university The faculty gathered many prominent academics, scholars, scientists and intellectuals of China. They cultivated lots of outstanding students. One of the Math Professor, Shiing-Shen Chern, won the Wolf Prize in 1984. Seventy-nine of the teachers become Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or Academicians of Chinese Academy of Engineering in later years.。 Two students graduate from the Department of physics, Chen-Ning Franklin Yang and Tsung-dao Lee, earned the Nobel Prize in 1957. Ninety two students become Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or Academicians of Chinese Academy of Engineering. The famous Chinese and American writer, Nelson Ikon Wu (鹿橋), is also a graduate from the Department of English. The story of his novel, Never-Ending Saga (Wei Yang Ko, 未央歌 ), is based on the scenes of the Southwestern Associated University. During the war, 14% or over 1000 students or graduates of the University jointed the army to fight the Japanese. Lots of them were sacrificed. So many moving and admirable stories......... Thanks to a kind college student who indicated me the location of the remains and Museum of the Southwestern Associated University.

The campus itself is just like many other universities and college. What sets this place apart is that it was once a joint university during WWII. And there is a classroom building that survived which makes it significant. This is not a must see, but if you have extra time in Kunming, check this out. A guided tour will help. Free admissions.