The brand was founded in 1958 during the "Great Leap Forward". At that time, the country was in the climax of "large-scale steelmaking", and the Yunnan Provincial Department of Light Industry, according to the instructions of the Central Ministry of Light Industry, asked Yunnan Paper Cigarette Factory to develop a new product, and to surpass the British "Eggric". In July 1958, "Yunyan" was officially put into production.
The word "Yunyan" in the trademark "Yunyan" is derived from the authentic work of Wang Xizhi, a great calligrapher in ancient China.