MAO-MING

Pinyin Maoming, city in western Kwangtung sheng (province), China. Mao-ming is situated some 16 miles (25 km) inland, 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Chan-chiang city. Little more than a small market town and minor administrative centre until the 1950s, the whole area has undergone rapid growth since then; Mao-ming itself has been transformed into an industrial city on the basis of rich deposits of oil shale, the exploitation of which began in the late 1950s. Mao-ming was linked by rail with the line constructed from Chan-chiang to Kwangsi sheng in 1957. A refinery has been constructed to produce gasoline, diesel oil, and kerosene. In association with it, there are chemical plants recovering sulfur and producing large quantities of ammonium sulfate. Pop. (1988 est.) 149,700.