Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology

Located on the campus of the Kunming Institute of Zoology on Jiaochang East Road in Kunming, Yunnan, China, the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology presents the rich past and present fauna of southwest China. Established as a joint project between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Yunnan Provincial Government, this three-floor museum opened in November 2006 and showcases foundational specimens collected across generations of dedicated scientists. While many who visit hold a scientific background, you will find plenty of intriguing zoological exhibits to explore.

On the first floor, you can marvel at an impressive trio of plant-eating dinosaur skeletons that stomped around Yunnan approximately 200 million years ago, including genuine bones exhumed from the Lufeng Basin in the 1980s. As you head up to the second floor, you will encounter display cases filled with an array of taxidermied birds and mammals. Reaching the top floor leads you to the interactive Rainforest Adventure, where you walk along a path surrounding synthetic trees, listening to bird calls and navigating a darkened cave.

You can also view rigid fish and snakes entombed in formaldehyde jars. It is a fascinating home to both tourist curiosity and future zoological scholarship.

What to see at Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology

• Trio of 200-million-year-old plant-eating dinosaur skeletons on the first floor
• Genuine dinosaur bones exhumed from Yunnan's Lufeng Basin in the 1980s
• Array of taxidermied mammals and birds displayed across the second floor
• Third-floor Rainforest Adventure featuring synthetic trees, bird calls, and a darkened cave
• Rigid fish and snake specimens entombed in formaldehyde jars

Visiting tips

Be sure to explore all three floors so you do not miss the top-floor rainforest path and darkened cave walkthrough.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Regular operating hours

How to get there & what’s nearby

Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology is easy to reach on Kunming’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Yunnan Provincial Museum and Yunnan Nationalities Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Kunming travel guide.