With the artistic reconstruction of historical scenes in film and television dramas, the origin of the lychees that Yang Guifei tasted in the line “A steed which raised red dust won the fair mistress' smiles” has become a hot topic among netizens.

Tracing back to ancient classics and considering factors such as distance, climate, and regional specialties, it is highly likely that Yang Guifei, who was born in Shu, favored lychees from the Shu region. Moreover, given the much shorter distance compared to Lingnan, "Sichuan lychees" were most likely her better choice.

“West of the Jin River gleams with mist; lychees ripen on the hill after rain.”The imagery and scenery in this poem by Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji, isn’t this the most vivid portrayal of lychees growing near Chengdu?

Records of Lychees in“Huayang Guozhi”

Did Sichuan really produce lychees? Absolutely. In ancient times, Sichuan not only had lychees but also many other “tropical specialties” in the Sichuan Basin and Chengdu Plain, which were in a relatively warm and humid subtropical climate during the Tang Dynasty.

Chang Qu, a historian of Eastern Jin Dynasty, recorded in “Huayang Guozhi” that the Chengdu Plain, geographically characterized by the Min River being regarded as the source of the Yangtze River, was rich not only in metals and jade but also in typical tropical animals such as rhinoceroses and elephants.

Thanks to its abundant resources and favorable climate, the local culinary preferences leaned toward “rich blend of tastes” and "spicy flavors", with people adding uniquely flavored plants to their dishes which is a tradition that remains a defining feature of Sichuan cuisine today.

Meanwhile, as recorded in “Huayang Guozhi”, “in its mountains and forests, there is prey; in its rivers, fish and shrimp; in its orchards, melons and fruits ripen all year round,” which means that the diverse selection of vegetables and fruits also enriched the dining tables of the people in Sichuan.