Delhi to Hong Kong

Lake Dian stretches 39km north to south, and contains enough water to fill Sydney Harbour three times.

Lake Dian is the sixth largest lake in China. It covers 298km² and contains 1.5 billion cubic metres of water.

The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is the southern extreme of the Tibetan Plateau, both formed as a result of the same tectonic activity that created the Himalayas.

The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau was formed as a result of the Indian continent colliding with the Asian continent due to the constant movement of Earth's tectonic plates, visualised here.

This topographical map of the Tibetan Plateau reveals Kunming's location on its southeastern tip, a region known as the Yunnan-Ghizhou Plateau.

Lakes such as these are found across the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, filling large basins, or grabens, formed by earthquakes.

Lake Dian is one of the largest lakes in China. The lake itself is elevated 1,887m above sea level, but it is surrounded by peaks reaching 3,700m.

Lake Dian fills a graben which is caused by earthquakes tearing the Earth's crust. Valleys slip downwards along cracks in the crust, while peaks are pushed upwards.

Kunming is nestled in a basin in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau surrounded by mountains with peaks up to 3,700m.

The Indian continent has been moving northwards for some 70 million years; the landmass began to collide with the Asian continent around 20 million years ago.

The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is littered with lakes such as these, which fill in fault-line basins left behind after earthquakes.

Kunming and Lake Dian are situated in a basin surrounded by mountains on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Kunming can be see in the distance in the far right of this image.

Lake Dian is one of China's largest lakes. Kunming can be seen on the northern banks of the lake, though settlements surround it on all sides.

Kunming has grown over thousands of years from a Bronze Age kingdom on the shores of Lake Dian to a prosperous modern city.

Kunming has prospered from centuries of successful trading thanks to its advantageous geographical position.

One of few remaining traditional wooden buildings in Kunming contrasts with the skyscrapers that characterise this modern city.

Old Kunming City comprises only a very small portion of modern-day Kunming. Hardly any historic buildings stand in Kunming, instead they have been replaced by modern skyscrapers.

This map shows the route Marco Polo took on his travels around Asia. He visited Kunming on his return from Bagan (Pagan) in Myanmar (Burma) to Chengdu in Sichuan, China in the 13th century.

This map of 9th century Asia reveals the extent of the Kingdom of Nanzhao, which encompassed most of Yunnan including Kunming.

Bronze ornaments, instruments and weapons have been found around Lake Dian, left behind by the Kingdom of Dian who lived here 3,000 years ago.

Kunming hosts a number of large businesses, mostly associated with trade and manufacturing.

Kunming is a sprawling metropolis with around 6.5 million people living in the greater metropolitan region and some three million in the urban centre.

Bronze sculptures such as these have been found along the banks of Lake Dian, left behind by the Kingdom of Dian that lived here 3,000 years ago.

Kunming is a modern industrial city with a population in its entire metropolitan region of more than 6.5 million people.

Today, Kunming is a wealthy Chinese city buoyed by foreign investment on top of its thriving manufacturing and trade economies.

Kunming is an industrial centre in Yunnan as manufacturing is one of its most profitable industries.

A Chinese convoy travels along the Burma Road bringing supplies to Chinese and Allied troops based in Kunming during World War II.

This map shows the trade routes that traversed Asia in the 1st century AD with Kunming marked on.

US military tanks travel along the Burma Road into China. The road was the only means of access to China during World War II for Allied forces.

The imposing architecture of Kunming Rail Station reveals the importance of rail to this city.

This map shows the Burma Road that was built during World War II to connect Kunming with Lashio in Burma.

Thousands of Burmese and Chinese labourers worked to build the Burma Road. This image shows repairs being made to the road, having fallen into disuse after the Japanese seized Lashio in 1942.

Kunming is a hub for transport. This map shows the national highways in China. Kunming is a noticeable meeting point of multiple highways.

Map showing the earliest railways to be constructed in China, including the Yunnan-Vietnam railway, bottom left.

The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway required hundreds of bridges to navigate the steep gorges found across the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Kunming Rail Station is the major hub for trains travelling across southern China.

During World War II, Kunming was a vital base for Chinese and Allied military in China.

Allied soldiers and Chinese forces bring supplies into Kunming on the Burma Road during World War II.

Kunming North Railway Station is a vital transport hub in Yunnan Province. The Yunnan Railway Museum can be found alongside the station.