Kham (Pinyin: Kangba), is a historical region presently divided between the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, with smaller portions found in Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan, where Khampas, a subgroup within the Tibetan ethnicity, live. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China (1911??949), most of the region was called Sikang Province (X蘋k?ng Sh?ng). The people of Kham are famous warriors, and armed escorts for caravans - for example on the Tea Horse Road - were formerly essential to guard against bandits.