Jilin , or Chi-lin conventional Kirin, Province, northeastern China. Area: 72,200 sq mi (187,000 sq km). Population: (2020) 24,073,453. Capital: Changchun. It is bordered by Russia, North Korea, Heilongjiang and Liaoning provinces, and Inner Mongolia. Jilin is China’s most-urbanized province. Its capital, Changchun, is the largest city, followed by Jilin city. Its major river is the Sungari (Songhua) River, a tributary of the Amur. It was made a province in 1907. Occupied by the Japanese army in 1931, it became part of the puppet state of Manchukuo (1932–45). Chinese communist forces seized it from the Nationalists in 1948. Industrialization since the late 20th century has been rapid.
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