or Yün-nan
Province (pop., 2000 est.: 42,880,000), southern China.
It is bordered by Vietnam , Laos , and Myanmar , Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, and Guangxi and Tibet autonomous regions. It has an area of 168,400 sq mi (436,200 sq km), and its capital is Kunming . Its population is one of China's most ethnically mixed, comprising more than 20 nationalities. The terrain is very mountainous, especially in the north and west. It is crossed by three major river systems
the Mekong , and the Salween
and is the source of two others
the Xi (there known as the Hongshui ) and the {{link=Yuan River">Yuan . Because of its isolation, the region was independent during the historical development of China. The Mongols overran it in the 13th century. In 1855–73 it was the scene of the great Panthay (Muslim) revolt. Part of the province was seized by the Japanese in World War II. Yunnan is now noted for its agricultural production, especially of rice, as well as for having an extensive mining industry.