KWANG-TUNG, kwiing'tung' (Chin., broad east ). The most southerly of the six maritime provinces of China proper; bounded on the south east and south by the China Sea, on the west hty Kwang-si, and on the north by Hunan. Kiang-si, and Fukien (Map: China. I) 7). About two thirds of its area of 79,456 square miles are covered by moderately high mountains. the chief ridges of which—known as the Nan-ling and Mei ling—extend along the northern boundary. form ing the watershed between the rivers Siang and Kan, which flow north to the Yang-tse and the `North' and 'East' rivers, which have their origin in Niang-si and (low south, the former joining the `West River' from Yun-nan and Kwang-si at the town of Sam-shui ("Three Rivers') to form the Chu-kiang, or l'earl River, on which Canton is situated, and the latter flowing into the Chu, a little lower down. Sano-shui stands at the apex of a great delta, which is intersected by numerous navigable branches and creeks of the West and Chu rivers. anti forms the richest and most fer tile part of the province. The other important river of the province is the Ilan, which rises in the mountains hack of Fukien, and falls into the sea near Swatow (q.v.). The coast-line is much broken. and islands are numerous. The largest of these is llainan (q•v.). Another of importance is Hong Kong (q.v.). There are two prominent peninsulas; that on the south. separated front Hainan by only a few miles. is called Lei-chow and forms a department of the same name: that on the southeast forms the Department of Kow-lun. 376 square miles of which were leased to Great Britain in 1S9S for ninety-nine years.
The province is rich geologically. Coal is found in three different sections. As now mined it is of poor quality, but is much used by the natives, especially in the iron and steel works of Fatshan (q.v.). Iron ore is found in twenty
places. and silver-mines were worked at one time. The chief commereial products are silk and silk fabrics, which represent about Co0 per cent. of the foreign exports; tea. cassia, and cassia-buds. matting, 75 per cent. of the annual output being exported to New York; fire-crack ers. palm-leaf fans. chinaware, and pottery, that of Shek-wan being the best. flinger is widely grown. both on the hillsides and in fields, and a great 'preserving' industry is carried on at Can ton. with large exports. Other noted preserves are `chow-chow' (bamboo-shoots), pineapple. and kumquat. Other products are sugar. tobacco, galangal. turmeric, betel-nuts. cocoanuts, agar agar, and fragrant woods from Lci-ehow and 'Hai nan. China-root and star-aniseed, and various oils.
The open ports of the province are Canton, Swatow, Sam-shui, and Pakhoi. I:wang-chow N\ all. opposite Hainan. was leased to France for nni•ty-nine years in 1b9S, and declared a free port in 190,1. Mae:to (q.v.), some miles below Canton. is a Portuguese possession. The Canton Ilankow Railway line will traverse the province from south to north. The capital of the province Hwang-chow-fil. better known as Canton. Kw:nig-twig early became known to Europeans. The Arab voyagers came as early as the tenth century; the Portuguese first arrived in 1517, and a British lleet of merchantmen sailed into the• Canton River in 1657. In 16S4 was estab lished the factory of the East India Company. The population is about 30.000.000, which in cludes about 3.000.000 Ilakkas (q.v.), and a great many aborigines.