Sichuan or Western Cuisine

Sichuan province, in the western interior of China, has the largest population in China, but this is balanced, fortunately, by the huge amount of rice and other agricultural products it grows. It is the natural breeding ground of the rare and exotic panda, whose presence in zoos all over the world gives so much joy to visitors. It is also a land of rugged, mountainous terrain, made more impassable by the spectacular Yangzi gorges. Last but by no means least, it has a unique cuisine quite different from the other three regional cuisines. This cuisine represents both Sichuan and its neighbouring province, Hunan, and has its centre in the capital, Chengdu. Since the 1970s, it has become particularly popular in the West. People associate it with Hot and Sour Soup and Fragrant Crispy Duck; many prefer it to other regional cuisines because of its more marked, spicy flavours.