Police shot dead at least four attackers and are hunting for the rest, it said, adding that more than 10 "terrorist suspects" were involved in the attack.
Evidence at the crime scene showed that the attack was orchestrated by Xinjiang separatist forces, the municipal government of Kunming said today.
TV footage showed police recovering swords carried by some of the members of the group.
This is first time militants allegedly belonging to the banned East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which is fighting for the independence of Muslim Uygur majority Xinjiang province, has carried out such a major attack outsides their province.
