The fossilized remains of Yuanmou Man who lived 1.7 million years ago were discovered in Yuanmou County in 1965. Before the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC), three main ethnic groups were recorded as active in this region. After hundreds of years of multiethnic fusion, Chuxiong became a residential area with Yi ethnic minority as its largest group. However, this was to change during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when the Han became the largest group in this area due to the large number of migrants from Central China. Chuxiong enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate with neither extreme heat nor cold. It has defined dry and wet seasons. May to October is the rainy season.