Sichuan (short names
川 Chuān or
蜀 Shǔ, the latter referring to the ancient Shu kingdom) sits in a fertile basin ringed by mountains. Famed for the tongue-numbing
花椒 Sichuan pepper in
麻辣 cuisine, for giant pandas around Chengdu, and for being the home of Du Fu's thatched cottage and the
三国 Shu Han state.
