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Reply to "50 places to travel in 2018"

Sichuan, China

Leshan's giant Buddha statue.
dttmstock/Shutterstock

This southwestern Chinese province has become much more accessible in the last year, thanks to Hainan Airline's addition of non-stop flights between Chengdu and New York City. There's also non-stop service between Los Angeles and Chengdu.

Ideal for adventurous eaters, Sichuan claims some of the spiciest dishes the country has to offer. Many are enhanced with chili oil and the famous, fiery Sichuan pepper.

Besides exploring the food, visitors will want to spend some time outdoors catching glimpses of the region's giant pandas and breathtaking mountain vistas. Jiǔzhàigōu National Park and Yàdīng Nature Reserve are good places to start. If you're more of a cultural buff, go see a Sichuanese opera — a unique form of art that includes masks and fire-breathing — or head to Leshan to see the world's largest stone Buddha statue.

FM
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