Sichuan promotes culture, tourism in UK

Sichuan is well-known for being home to giant pandas, with 16 giant panda nature reserves housing more than 80 percent of China's giant pandas.

Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland has been home to two giant pandas from Ya'an, Sichuan, named Yang Guang and Tian Tian, for the last 12 years, since they arrived in 2011 under a 10-year agreement which was extended for another two years in 2021.

"But Sichuan is more than pandas," said Zhao Fei, minister of China's embassy in the United Kingdom.

Sichuan enjoys splendid natural landscapes, with five scenic areas being listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, as the province has great differences in terrain. The eastern part of Sichuan occupies the fertile Sichuan basin, while the western part has the mountain ranges forming the easternmost part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

As the Yangtze River flows through the province, rich civilization has also developed in the area. The Sanxingdui Ruins unveiled in the city of Guanghan, for example, serve as proof of the profound history of Sichuan, with more than 10,000 artifacts, including gold masks, bronzewares, ivories, jades, and textiles, tracing the culture back more than 3,000 years.