Yunnan Arts University

Yunnan Arts University (云南艺术学院), also known as “Yunyi” (云艺), is located in Kunming, the “Spring City” of Yunnan Province. It is one of the eight provincial comprehensive art universities in China and a leading higher education institution in the Southwest region, granting doctoral degrees and recognized as a development unit for the provincial doctoral programs. The university is a member of several art and education alliances, including the China-ASEAN Art Universities Alliance, the China-Russia Art Universities Alliance, and the China-Central and Eastern European Dance and Cultural Arts Alliance. The university also participates in the China Higher Drama Education Alliance and the China Stage Arts Education Alliance. It is designated as a receiving institution for the Chinese Government Scholarship for international students, a National Cultural Quality Education Base, and a national organization for social art-level exams.

Founded in 1938 as part of the Southwest United University, the institution evolved over several decades, and in 1959, it officially became Yunnan Arts University. The university gained independence in 1980 after being part of Kunming Normal University (昆明师范学院).

Campus and Facilities

As of June 2025, Yunnan Arts University consists of two campuses: Chenggong Campus and Mayuan Campus, covering a total area of over 794 acres. The university has 12 teaching departments, one affiliated art school, two doctoral disciplines, and five professional degree categories. It offers both academic and professional master’s programs, with nearly 10,000 full-time students and 877 faculty members. The total value of the university’s teaching and research facilities is 237 million RMB.

History and Development

Early Development

• 1938: Southwest United University (西南联合大学) established a Teacher’s College, laying the groundwork for the creation of the university.

• 1946: The Teacher’s College was renamed National Kunming Normal University (国立昆明师范学院).

• 1950: Music courses were introduced, continuing the spirit of Southwest United University. Professors from France, such as Fang Yu (方于), contributed to music education. The Art Department was founded in 1951 under the leadership of Liao Xinxue (廖新学), a sculptor and painter who studied in France.

• 1952-1957: The department’s structure evolved, though it was temporarily suspended due to political events such as the “Anti-Rightist Movement.”

Establishment of Yunnan Arts University

• 1958: Approved by the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee, Yunnan Arts University was officially founded, integrating the art departments from Kunming Normal University. Initially, the university offered four disciplines: music, fine arts, drama, and dance.

• 1963: Yunnan Arts University was merged with Kunming Normal University, and the music and art departments became part of the university’s Art Department. During this period, the university struggled with political movements, and much of its educational work was suspended.

• 1977: After the restoration of the national college entrance exams, Yunnan Arts University was re-established as an independent institution.

Modern Era

• 1980: The university became fully independent from Kunming Normal University and resumed academic operations.

• 1996: The university gained the qualification to accept international students.

• 2002: Yunnan Arts University established Wenhua College (now Kunming University of Media and Communications).

• 2003: The university was authorized to grant master’s degrees.

• 2008: The university began constructing a new Chenggong campus and became a training base for international talent in ethnic arts in Yunnan Province.

• 2009: It was approved by the provincial government as a recipient institution for international students from neighboring countries under the government scholarship program.

• 2019: The university was granted a provincial-level postdoctoral research station in Art Theory.

• 2020: Yunnan Arts University joined the China Stage Arts Education Alliance.

Key Information

• Founded: 1959 (Jihai Year)

• Location: Kunming City, Yunnan Province

• University Type: Public University

• Affiliated with: Yunnan Province

• Campus Areas: Chenggong Campus, Mayuan Campus

• Total Area: 794 acres

• Full-time Students: Nearly 10,000

• Faculty: 877 staff members

• Website: Yunnan Arts University Website

School Motto and Song

• Motto: Practical, Innovative, Aesthetic (务实、求新、尚美)

• School Song: “Song of Yunyi” (云艺之歌)

Notable Alumni

• Wang Yanhui (王砚辉)

• Yang Wu (杨舞)

• Gu Feng (顾峰)

• Li Ke (李可)

• Li Xiaochuan (李晓川)

Academic Programs

• Undergraduate Programs: 27 majors as of November 2023

• Graduate Programs: 2 doctoral disciplines and 5 professional degree categories

• Postdoctoral Research Station: 1, as of November 2023

Educational Conditions

As of November 2023, Yunnan Arts University (云南艺术学院) offers 27 undergraduate programs. By June 2025, the university will have 12 teaching units.

Academic Disciplines and Programs

Schools and Programs

Discipline Development

As of November 2023, Yunnan Arts University has a provincial-level postdoctoral research workstation. By June 2025, it will offer 2 primary disciplines and 5 professional degree categories. The university also has 2 provincial-level key disciplines with advantages, 3 provincial-level Plateau A-class disciplines, and 2 provincial-level first-class disciplines, including one key support discipline.

Degree Programs

Key Disciplines

Faculty

As of November 2023, the university employs 690 full-time teachers and 230 external instructors, with a total of 805 teachers. The ratio of external to full-time teachers is 0.33:1. Among the full-time faculty, 74 are “dual-qualification” teachers, accounting for 10.72%. Additionally, 255 full-time faculty members hold senior professional titles (36.96%), and 534 full-time faculty hold graduate degrees (77.39%).

Notable awards include:

• 1 recipient of the “National Outstanding Political Education Worker”

• 4 winners of the “Five One Project” Award

• 5 recipients of “State Council Special Allowance”

• 1 national “Young and Middle-Aged Outstanding Cultural and Artistic Worker”

Notable Faculty Members

Teaching Achievements

By June 2025, the university will have won 5 awards for higher education teaching achievements in Yunnan Province, including one Grand Prize.

Award-winning Teaching Projects

International Cooperation and Exchange

On April 9, 2025, Yunnan Radio and Television Station and Yunnan Arts University signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the university library meeting room.

Research Platforms

As of June 2025, Yunnan Arts University (云南艺术学院) has 7 provincial-level research platforms and 8 provincial-level innovation teams.

Research Platforms

Innovation Teams

Research Achievements

As of June 2025, the university has launched 18 national social science art projects, including 4 in 2021, ranking second among universities nationwide. It is also conducting 3 major national social science fund projects (including art projects).

Research Awards

Academic Resources

Library Collections

As of August 2025, Yunnan Arts University holds 1,020,600 printed books and 508,500 electronic journals. In 2022, 80,086 new books were added, bringing the total number of printed books to 87.71 per student, with 817,000 theses and 3,780 hours of audio and video materials. The library also provides access to more than 10 domestic and international databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Chinese Journal Service Platform, and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform.

Art Journals

Yunnan Arts University Journal (云南艺术学院学报), founded in 1989, was initially named Yizhou and later changed to its current name in 1995. The journal, published by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education and Yunnan Arts University, focuses on humanities and social sciences. Major sections include Art Studies, Ethnic Arts Research, Drama Studies, Musicology, Dance Studies, Film and Television Arts, Art Design, and Fine Arts. The journal is indexed by several important Chinese academic systems, such as the Peking University Library Chinese Core Journal and the Chinese Journal Full Text Database.

Campus Culture

School Motto

“Pragmatism, Innovation, Beauty”

• Pragmatism refers to a focus on practicality and realism, a key characteristic of Chinese culture. Confucius emphasized societal life, rejecting abstract ideas, and highlighting a practical approach to education and life.

• Innovation encourages the pursuit of new ideas and methods, with teachers cultivating an exploratory and creative spirit to enhance education and research.

• Beauty represents the pursuit of artistic, moral, and emotional beauty, which aligns with the university’s emphasis on aesthetic education and development.

School Emblem

The Yunnan Arts University emblem uses classic red and black colors. The combination of these colors is symbolic in Chinese culture, where red represents excitement and vitality, while black symbolizes strength and solemnity. The emblem’s design includes a central pattern that resembles a phoenix, symbolizing wisdom and success. The circular shape of the emblem represents completeness and the university’s aspiration to excellence in education.

Campuses

As of June 2025, Yunnan Arts University has two campuses: Chenggong Campus and Mayuan Campus, covering a total area of over 930 acres. The university houses 12 teaching units, including schools of Music, Fine Arts, Design, Drama, Dance, Film and Television, Arts Management, and others.

Chenggong Campus

Located at 1577 Yuhua Road, Chenggong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province (云南省昆明市呈贡区雨花路1577号).

Mayuan Campus

Located at 23 Keye Road, Wuhua District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province (云南省昆明市五华区科业路23号).

Current Leadership

Past Leadership

Alumni

Notable Alumni

Art Industry

Academic Sector

Politics

Film and Television

Awards and Honors