CHANG-TONG, a province of China, bounded on the east by Petcheli and part of Honan, on the south by Kiang-nan, on the east by the sea, and on the north by the sea and part of Petcheli. The country is well watered by lakes, streams, and rivers; but is nevertheless liable to suffer from drought, as rain falls here but seldom. The locusts also sometimes make great devastation. However, it abounds greatly in game; and there is perhaps no country where quails, partridges, and pheasants, are sold cheaper, the inhabitants of this province being reckoned the keenest sportsmen in the empire. This province is greatly enriched by the river Yun, called the Grand Imperial Canal, through which all the barks bound to Pekin must pass in their way thither. The duties on this canal alone amount to more than 4,500,000 annually. The canal itself is greatly admired by European travellers on account of its strong and long dikes, the banks decorated with cut stone, the ingenious mechanism of its locks, and the great number of natural obstructions which have been overcome in the execution of the work. The province produces silk of the ordinary kind; and besides this, another from a sort of insect resembling our caterpillar. It is coarser than the ordinary silk, but much stronger and more durable; so that the stuffs made from it have a very extensive sale throughout the empire.

Chang-tong is remarkable for being the birthplace of the celebrated philosopher and lawgiver Confucius. His native city is called Kia-fou, where there are several monuments erected in honour of this great man. This province is divided into six districts, which contain five cities of the first class, and 114 of the second and third. Along the coast, also, are 15 or 16 villages of considerable importance on account of their commerce; there is likewise a number of small islands, most of which have harbours very convenient for the Chinese junks which pass from thence to Corea or Lea-tong. The most remarkable cities are, 1. Tsi-nan-fou, the capital, which stands south of the river Ting-ho or Th. It is large and populous; but chiefly celebrated for having been the residence of a long series of kings, whose tombs, rising on the neighbouring mountains, afford a beautiful prospect. 2. Yen-tcheu-fou, the second city of the province, situated between two rivers, and in a mild and temperate climate. Great quantities of gold are said to have been formerly collected in its neighbourhood. 3. Lin-tchin-tchun, situated on the great canal, is much frequented by ships, and may be called a general magazine for every kind of merchandise. Here is an octagonal tower, divided into eight stories, the walls of which are covered on the outside with porcelain loaded with various figures neatly executed, and incrustated on the inside with variously coloured marble. A staircase, constructed in the wall, conducts to all the stories, from which there are passages that lead into magnificent galleries ornamented with gilt ballustrades. All the cornices and projections of the tower are furnished with little bells; which, says M. Grolier, when agitated by the wind, form a very agreeable harmony. In the highest story is an idol of gilt copper, to which the tower is dedicated. In the neighbourhood are some other temples, the architecture of which is exceedingly beautiful.