Yunnan, province in southern China, bordering the countries of Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. Most of the inhabitants of Yunnan live on a relatively low plateau in the east, which includes Kunming the capital, largest city, and principal industrial center of Yunnan. An inaccessible high plateau, dissected by deep gorges, dominates the western areas. Ethnic minorities, includingYi, Miao, Dai, and Tibetans, constitute about a quarter of the total population. The chief crops, restricted to small areas suitable for farming, are rice and corn. Resources include tin ( at Gejiu), copper ( at Dongchuan), iron are ( at Wuding), and coal ( underlying much of the province).