Xilin

Xilin is a toponym used for several places in China. The most common form is 西林, which translates roughly to "west forest." Variants exist that are transliterated as Xilin but use different Chinese characters, reflecting local history and geography. As a toponym, Xilin typically indicates a location associated with a forested area on the western side of a larger settlement or region.

Because Xilin is relatively widespread, multiple counties, towns, and townships across various provinces may bear the name. Distinguishing among these places requires reference to the accompanying administrative level (such as a county, town, or district) and the governing prefecture-level city or province. This pattern—using a directional or landscape element paired with a natural feature—is common in Chinese place-naming and helps explain why Xilin appears in several distinct localities.

In practical use, identifying a specific Xilin usually depends on additional geographic or administrative context. For researchers, travelers, or readers encountering the name, a disambiguation approach—checking the province, prefecture, and county or district—is typically necessary to determine the exact location being referenced.