CHIN-HUA

also spelled Kinhwa, Pinyin Jinhua, city, central Chekiang sheng (province), China. Chin-hua is the natural centre of the eastern half of the Chin-hua and Ch' Basin, being situated at the junction of two of the tributaries of the Ch'ien-t'ang River-the Chin-hua River and the Wuyi River. It is also a junction on the railway from Hang-chou to Nan-ch'ang in Kiangsi, where the main line is joined to a branch line running northwest to Lan-hsi and beyond. From the 2nd century BC the place was a county subordinated to K'uai-chi (now called Shao-hsing). Its name was changed to Chin-hua in 598. Under the T'ang dynasty (618-907) it became the seat of Wu prefecture. From the 14th century it became the superior prefecture of Chin-hua. It reverted to county status in 1912. The present city was rebuilt and walled in 1352. Traditionally, it has been a prosperous commercial centre of a rich rice-producing area and a collecting centre for agricultural and forestry products. Before World War II there developed a large trade in bamboo, timber, various types of vegetable and tree oils, and wine and hams. The area became famous for its special breeds of black hogs. The city has rice-polishing, wine-brewing, oil-extracting, and various food-processing plants and ham-curing factories. There are minor engineering and textile works. Pop. (1990) 144,280.