KIANG-SI, kyfing'se'.'. .Vn inland province of China. bounded on the cast by Chekiang and Fukien, on the south by Kwang-tung, on the west by Ilu-nan, on the north by litt-yell. and on the northeast by Ngandiwei (Map: China. E 6). It is made up entirely of ranges of moderately high mountains and hills of no great length, veined by numerous watercourses and small stretches of open country. Gn its outer border, east. south. and west, the ridges are longer and higher. and form a sort of horseshoe-shaped environment. the l'o yang Lake filling the opening on the north. in this frame of mountains most of the numerous rivers of the province have their origin, and from this they drain either directly into the lake or join the Kan-kiang, the principal stream of which rises in the Meiling .Nlountains in the south. and after a course of over 300 miles flows into the Yang-tse through the lake. This forms the great water highway from north to south, a single day's portage over the Meiling bringing the trav eler to the North River of Canton. which leads
to that city and the China Sea. The province is rich in minerals. Coal is tound not far from the lake, and about. 30 miles south of the city of Kwang-sin. in what are called the 'I nterdieted Hills.' are valuable copper and imp mines, which have been closed by Imperial authority since the fifteenth century. Kaolin and other materials needed for pottery and porcelain making are abundant in several localities, and support an important industry. (See KING-TEII-CIIIN. ) The chief products of the province are tea, tobaeco, grass-cloth, and hemp, chinaware, and paper. Kiang-si has played an important part in litera ture. The capital is Nanchang. Area, 72.170 square miles: population, about 24.000.000.