Little tangible evidence remains of Kunming's cultural past. There are pockets of old stone or mud-brick buildings and a few monuments still standing, but a ceaseless drive to modernize and build ever-higher makes such relics a rare find. For those who value glimpses into what the Spring City looked like nearly one hundred years ago, there is hope. The city's old Bird and Flower Market (花鸟市场), as well as the adjoining Zhengyi Fang (正义坊) area, are in the midst of a multiyear facelift — one that is beginning to reveal some truly stunning acts of preservation.

One of the most remarkable of these endeavors is the Silver Chest Boutique Hotel, which occupies what was once one of the most extravagant homes in Kunming in the late 1920s. GoKunming recently took a tour of the building and learned about its history while speaking with co-owner Tang Lei (唐蕾).

A little history

One hundred and forty-two years ago, a Yunnan family began its slow rise to prominence. Jiang Zonghan (蒋宗汉), already a ge