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Why was famine relief difficult to deliver in Shaanxi during the 1870s?
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Shaanxi
The dramatic karst formations and quiet rivers of Shaanxi province offer a serene contrast to the ancient cityscape of Xi'an.
During the 1870s, Shaanxi faced a catastrophic famine caused by a prolonged drought that lasted from 1876 to 1878. When the government attempted to provide aid in 1877, the delivery of relief was rendered ineffective primarily due to the province's poor transport facilities. This logistical failure contributed to a devastating death toll, with estimates suggesting that four to five million people perished in the province during this period.1