Chekiang

Province (pop., 2002 est.: 46,470,000), eastern China. With an area of 39,300 sq mi (101,800 sq km), it is bounded by the East China Sea, Shanghai municipality, and Fujian, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces; its capital is Hangzhou. It is one of China's smallest provinces and one of the most densely populated. Its northern part lies just south of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) delta. Occupying parts of various kingdoms until the 13th century AD, it was divided into eastern and western regions. Foreign penetration began in the 1840s, and it was devastated during the Taiping Rebellion (1850–64). After the Chinese revolution (1911–12), it became a power base for the Nationalist Party of Chiang Kai-shek, who was born in the province. Occupied by the Japanese during World War II, it was little affected by the 1946–49 civil war. In addition to its agricultural importance, it has a thriving fishing industry. Its hydroelectric power plants have spurred more growth.

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