a town of China, capital of the province of Shan-si, on the Fuen-ho, 250 miles S.W. of Pekin. It is about eight miles in circumference, surrounded with walls; and it contains a ruined palace, the imperial residence of the Tchao dynasty, and a burial-place, planted with cypresses, and containing the tombs of many monarchs of that dynasty. Tai-yuan is densely peopled, and has manufactures of porcelain, hardware, and carpets.