Yunnan, also named as Dian for short, is situated in the Southwest frontier of China. Stretching about 865 kilometers from east to west and 990 kilometers from north to south, it covers an area of 394,000 square kilometers. Accounting for 4.1 percent of the total land area of China, it is the 8th largest province in China; with Kunming being its capital city; Yunnan has 8 municipalities and 8 minority autonomous prefectures under jurisdiction altogether. Yunnan is also situated in the southwestern part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. It borders on Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the southeast, Sichuan Province in the northeast and Tibet Autonomous Region in the northwest. In its west and south Yunnan shares a common border with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam along a total boundary of 4,060 kilometers. In the bordering area, there are 12 national border ports, 8 provincial border ports, and over 90 routes leading into the neighboring countries. In addition, Yunnan is geographically proximate to Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh and India. Since ancient times, Yunnan has been serving as China's gateway to Southeast Asia and South Asia and is a convergence for oriental and western cultures. The Southern Silk Road which existed 2,000 years ago started its journey from Sichuan to Yunnan, and extended from Yunnan further down to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Arabia region, and the West.

　　Yunnan is situated in the southwestern part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

　　It borders Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhnang Antonomous Region on the southeast, Sichuan Prnvince on the northeast and Tibet Autonomous

　　Region On the northwest. To its west and south

　　Yunnan shares a common border with Myanmar. Laos aud Viet Nam along a boundary line that is 4,060 kilometers long. In the border area, there are 12 national border ports, 8 provincial border ports, and over 90 routes leading into the neighboring countries. In addition,Yunnan is geographically proximate to Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh and India.

　　Since ancient times, Yunnan has been serving as China's gateway to Southeast Asia and South Asia and is a meeting point of oriental and western cultures. The Southern Silk Road

　　which existed 2,000 years ago started its way from Sichnan to Yunnan. and extended from Yunnan further down to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Arabian region, and the West.