If Sichuan cuisine still seems too mild to you, you should definitely try Hunan cuisine. Besides its spiciness, Hunan cuisine is known for its aesthetic dishes and wide variety. Particularly typical for the province are smoked foods.
Despite the use of dried chilies with seeds in Hunan cuisine dishes, it is not just known for its spiciness. On the contrary, chefs in Hunan excel in harmoniously combining contrasting flavors such as spicy and sweet or spicy and sour. Experts estimate that Hunan cuisine includes more than 4,000 dishes. The ingredients for the dishes come from the mountains, freshwater lakes, and rivers of Hunan. In addition to vegetarian ingredients like scallions or mushrooms, Hunan cuisine often includes fish and seafood, as well as meats such as beef or duck.
http://www.enghunan.gov.cn/AboutHunan/HistoryCulture/CTC/201507/t20150714_1796385.html
