Jambi

Capital of Jambi province in eastern Sumatra, Indonesia; population (2000) 376,300. Situated on the Batang Hari River, 80 km/50 mi from the Strait of Berhala on the China Sea, the port can be reached by ocean-going vessels. It is a trading centre for rubber and palm oil from the surrounding area. Industries include rubber processing, and exports include timber, rattan, and rice.

Jambi was a focus of the Buddhist Srivijaya empire between the 7th and 12th centuries, when it was known as Melayu; many Buddhist and Hindu sculptures remain in the town's vicinity. As capital of the declining Srivijaya empire in the late 13th century, Malayu and its dominions came under Majapahit rule from the 14th century. It was sacked in the 17th century by forces of the Johor sultanate.

Jambi is home to Jambi University.

Jambi

Province of eastern Sumatra, Indonesia; area 44,924 sq km/17,345 sq mi; population (1995 est) 2,383,400. The capital is Jambi. The River Batang Hari flows west to east across the province, and the Barisan mountains, which rise to 2,933 m/9,623 ft at the volcanic peak of Mount Masurai, occupy much of the area. Jambi became a major source of oil under the Dutch, with numerous oilfields and pipelines. Rubber growing and processing are important activities in the region, but the economy is mainly agricultural, and products include tobacco, copra, rice, and maize.