or Nanking, a populous city of China. It is situated on the southern bank of the Yang-tse-Kiang, 194 miles west from Shanghai, and nearly equally distant from Canton and Pekin. The name signifies southern capital. It was at one time the capital of the empire and was adorned with magnificent public buildings, among others, the famous Porcelain Tower. This was an eight-sided pagoda about 260 feet in height. It was divided into nine stories. The outer walls were veneered with white porcelain brick. Each story was surrounded by eaves, like a veranda, roofed with green tiling. The summit bore a gilt ball fixed at the top of an iron rod. Five chains from this rod led to the eaves of the roof, each terminating in a huge pearl. One pearl was designed to avert floods, another to prevent fires from breaking out, a third kept dust storms at a distance, a fourth allayed tempests, and a fifth guarded the city against riots. One hundred fifty-two bells and countless lanterns hung from the various eaves. The building was destroyed by rebels, such is the account. As long as Nankin was the residence of the emperors, it was a literary center. The city is still famous for its manufactures of artificial flowers, nankeen cloth, satin, paper, and porcelain. It contains the chief arsenal of the Chinese Empire. Cannon and firearms are manufactured under the direction of European foremen. The city is about twenty miles in circumference. It was formerly surrounded by a wall forty feet high, portions of which still remain. The present population is estimated at 267,000. The culture of the ancient court lingers. It is said that the purest Chinese is to be heard in Nankin. See PEKIN.