Chuxiong Normal University (CNU) was founded in 1936 and is now a full-time general undergraduate university in Yunnan Province, approved by the State Education Ministry in May of 2001. It has kept teacher training as one of its main features since its establishment.

CNU recruits full-time undergraduate students from 25 provinces, and now there are 15,364 full-time undergraduates in 10 colleges with 55 full-time undergraduate programs. There are three provincial first-class and eight university-level vital disciplines, and Master's degree authorization cultivation and construction of three fields in discipline construction. Regarding teaching outcomes, the teachers of CNU have won one second prize for national teaching achievement, one particular award, five first prizes, three second prizes at the provincial level, and 316 "undergraduate teaching quality" projects at or above the provincial level. The students have won 446 national awards and 1,088 provincial ones. Regarding curriculum construction, there are seven high-quality courses and ten first-class courses.

CNU constantly improves the ability of scientific research to foster disciplines and to service local economic and social development. So far, 67 national science fund projects and more than 200 provincial and ministerial-level scientific research projects, except for more than 1,000 other scientific research projects, are undertaking. Three critical social science bases and three essential laboratories of the Ministry of Education are underway. Scientific research achievements include over 100 awards at or above the provincial level and over 100 national patents authorized.

CNU seeks to promote broad international cooperation and exchange, having established inter-university collaboration with several universities and research institutes from U.S., Canada, German, Italy, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore and so on. The domestic cooperation is also established with four first-brand universities in China, which are Beijing Normal University, Southeast University, Nanjing University and Shanghai University of Sport. CNU has also established cooperative relations with local governments, relevant departments, and local enterprises and institutions.

CNU has made enormous achievements in talent training, scientific research, local service, and international exchanges. In so doing, it has significantly contributed to developing primary education and teacher training and advancing economics, sciences, and society locally and nationally.