Yuxi was once the core area of Yunnan Province during the Previous Qin Dynasty (period before 221BC). In the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD), it became a county of Yizhou Shire. The following dynasties witnessed the continuous separations and unifications of the area. It was not until 1997 that Yuxi became a prefecture-level city of the Republic of The city was founded in 960 AD, at a time when Yunnan was not yet part of China. Yuxi was once the core area of Yunnan Province during the Previous Qin Dynasty (period before 221BC). In the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD), it became a county of Yizhou Shire. The following dynasties witnessed the continuous separations and unifications of the area. It was not until 1997 that Yuxi became a prefecture-level city of the Republic of China.

Hongta District has a splendid history. Xinxing Zhou was the previous administrative unit and memorable name in Yuxi history. After the founding of New China, Yuxi County was established and then Yuxi City which functioned as a county. In 1998, Yuxi Prefecture was changed into Yuxi Municipality and Yuxi City into Hongta District.

Hongta District now is the political, economic and cultural center and the site of the Party, Army and administrative institutions of Yuxi municipality. It covers an area of 1004km2 with a total population of 382,000. Its favorable ecological conditions benefit people to produce high-quality tobacco, thus “the Home of Yunnan Tobacco”. Being diligent and hard-working, the ethnic groups here have their own splendid cultures, and are good at singing and dancing, thus “the Hometown of Huadeng Opera”. It is also the hometown of Mr. Nie’er, people’s musician who composed the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China. It offers convenient transportation because it enjoys a geographical vantage. It is located at the hub of the “Three-Lake-One-Mountain” tourist route of Yuxi, on the passageway from Kunming to the scenic spots in Southern Asia.