KWANG-SI, kwiing'se' (Chin., broad west). An inland province of Southern China, lying to the west of Kwang-tung. It is bounded on the south by a portion of Kwang-tung and the north east part of Tongking; on the west by Yunnan, and on the north by Kwei-chow and Hunan (Map: China, C 7). Its southerly parts are traversed by branches and spurs of the Nan-shan range, an offshoot of the great mountain masses of Tibet, which stretches through Kwang-tung to the coast range of Fukien. Toward the north and west hills and plains are found. It is watered chiefly by the Si-kiang, or 'West River.' which has numerous tributaries, some of them of consid erable length. This river rises in Yun-nan, and after a course of 1000 miles, debouehes into the China Sea below Canton. The geology of Kwang si is not known, but its mineral wealth is said to be considerable. Besides grain it produces for ex port cassia, cassia-oil, and medicines. Its great
est trading centre is Wu-chow, on the Si-kiang, near the border of Kwang-tung, and 200 miles above Canton. This is an open port, and has a Chinese Imperial maritime customs station. An other open port is Lung-chow. on the Tongking frontier. The capital is Kwei-lin-fu (q.v.). Area, 78.250 square miles; population. 5.250.000, in cluding many Hakkas (q.v.), but exclusive of many members of aboriginal tribes called Miao tse. who still maintain their independence in the mountains. A number of these Sliao-tse are partly civilized and live in communities by them selves under Government supervision. The first outbreak of the Taiping rebels occurred in this province. Kwang-si shares with Kwang-tung the supervision of a Governor-General, who resides at Canton.