Shen-Si
a province of China; bounded on the N. by Mongolia, on the E. by the Hwang-ho and Honan, on the S. by Hupeh and Sze-chuen, and on the W. by Kansuh; area, 75,270 square miles. The Tsing-ling mountains divide the province into two distinct regions, of which the northern is the more important. Shen-Si is chiefly an agricultural province, but contains very extensive coal fields, both anthracite and bituminous, and abundant deposits of iron ore. A British syndicate obtained a concession for working the Shen-si mines. In 1901 the famine in Shen-si was so severe that cannibalism was resorted to and it was estimated that 30 per cent of the population died.
From Si-ngan-foo, the provincial capital. and anciently the capital of the empire,