• Sichuan

• Name in Chinese characters: 四川
• Name in Pinyin: Sìchuān
• Status: Province
• Capital: Chengdu

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• Location within China

  

  General Overview

  Sichuan means Four Rivers a very typical shortening (two characters from many) of the Song Dynasty title 'Four circuits of rivers and gorges'. This title reflects the early importance of Sichuan as a production centre. It is still often called the 'Land of Abundance'.

  It is the basin shape of this province that dominates its weather, and the weather that seems to influence every aspect of local life.

  Sichuan (Szechuan) food is noted for being particularly spicy. This is said to be necessary to drive out the excess dampness in the air. Sichuan peppercorns are a feature of many dishes. These are a pungent aromatic rather than a hot spice, with a strong numbing effect not unlike cloves.

  The weather is also responsible for the habit of tea-drinking in shady parks during the sultry afternoons. Teas are consumed for their health-giving properties and as an excuse for social gatherings - with either gaming or discussion as a sub-plot.

  Even the ladies of Sichuan are supposedly blessed by the damp air. Those of Chongqing (now technically a municipality in its own right) are said to be the fairest in the land as the moist air and cloudy skies are good for the complexion.

  For the visitor

  Sichuan has many wonderful attractions.

  The capital of Sichuan, Chengdu, has a host of sites of interest for the visitor. The panda sanctuary found in the northern suburbs is world famous, the Wenshu Temple less so and the new archaeological museum hardly at all though that will surely change as the discoveries at Sanxingdui become better recognised. This site lies about 40km outside of Chengdu and is best visited as a day trip. There are several other such excursions including Mt. Qincheng and Dujiangyan.

  Further afield, the highlights are Mt. Emei, Leshan, Dazu, Jiuzhaigou/Huanglong and Zigong.

  It should not be forgotten that much of Sichuan is influenced by Tibetan culture. Much of the western half of the province lies up on the Tibetan Plateau. This gives interesting opportunities to see the traditional way of life without the distractions of a big city such as Lhasa.

  The Qiang ethnic group are also a feature of Sichuan. Visiting their home towns gives an excuse to travel up into wonderful mountain terrain.

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• Current Comments

  2 comments so far (post your own)

  Hi Brooke
  
  Szechuan is an older transliteration of the characters. Since transliterations are, at best, an approximation of the correct sounds there can be differences according to the sytem used. We use the Pinyin transliteration for names as this is now the official one.

  Posted by China Journeys on Sat 18 Feb, 2012

  I thought it was Szechuan. You use that name only once, in reference to the food. Is that something different

  Posted by Brooke on Sat 18 Feb, 2012

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