It borders Myanmar on the west and Laos and Vietnam on the south. Kunming is the capital. These include the Salween and the Mekong. The rugged, vertical terrain produces a wide range of flora and fauna, and the province has been called a natural zoological and botanical garden. It has a mild climate with balmy and fair weather, but although the growing period is long, there is little arable land.
Agriculture is restricted to the few upland plains, open valleys, and terraced hillsides.
However, Yunnan's chief source of wealth lies in its vast mineral resources. There are many minority groups in Yunnan. From ancient times the Chinese invaders gradually pushed the aboriginal tribes into mountain localities, where today, retaining their distinct languages and culture, they populate eight autonomous districts. Separated by rugged mountains from the central authority in N China, Yunnan for centuries remained independent. Yunnan passed to the Manchus in 1659 and became a province of China under the control of the central government.