a province of China, just like a state of USA,which capital is called Xi'an and i think u must have heard this sentense: for a man who had not been to Xi'an,he had not been to China.

Shǎn It's a provice in west China.

Shǎnxī(陕西) lies on the northwest China,it's a provice.but the Pinyin character of Shanxi could also means the other province in China which is called Shānxī(山西),lies on the center of north China.

陕西是中国西部的一个省。shan第三声

”陕西“是中国的一个省。