Page:The Chinese Empire. A General & Missionary Survey.djvu/264



The province of Shensi has an area of 75,270 square miles, which is nearly equal to the area of England and Wales combined, or of the State of Nebraska. Its population is estimated at 8,450,182, which is nearly the same as that of Scotland and Ireland together. It derives its name Shensi, or " West of the Passes," from the fact that it is situated to the west of the famous pass of Tungkwan, near the bend of the Yellow Eiver where the three provinces of Shensi, Shansi, and Honan adjoin.

As will be seen under the article on Kansu, this province formerly included Kansu, the Viceroy of the whole of that territory then residing at Sian Eu, whereas he now resides at Lanchow, the Governor alone residing at Sian Fu.

Geographically, the province naturally divides itself into three districts, the two southern districts being the valleys of the two rivers Han and Wei, and the northern high table- land forming the other.

1. The Valley of the Han Eiver. — This valley is separated from the neighbouring province of Szechwan by the Kiutiao mountains on the south, and from the Sian plain on the north by the Tsinling range, which attains an altitude of 11,000 feet. The western portion of the valley widens out into an oval plain about 90 miles long by about 25 miles across at its widest part. The remainder of the valley is very narrow, the mountains