Guilin Rice Noodles

• Key Ingredients: Rice noodles, pickled vegetables, chili oil, meat sauce, braised meat, fried peanuts

Guilin rice noodles are a popular regional dish, served with a soy sauce-based sauce made with plenty of aromatic spices and thinly sliced seasoned braised meat. You can add fermented vegetables like chopped pickled cowpeas, pickled mustard greens, and dried radish cubes. You'll also find other toppings, like peanuts, and a dash of chili oil for extra heat.

You can find rice noodles anywhere in Guilin, and they are very affordable at just RMB 4.5 to 5 (about 65 cents) per dish.

A serving of Beer Fish

• Key Ingredients: Fresh fish from the Li River, beer, chili peppers, soy sauce, garlic, tomato, ginger

The main reason we love this dish is that it features fresh fish directly from the Li River, so you'll be able to taste the difference in every bite. This dish is a bit salty, hot, and malty from the beer.

Try this dish at many restaurants near the Li River area in Guilin, especially around Elephant Trunk Hill Park, Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, and West Street in Yangshuo.

A whole fish will usually cost RMB 60 (about USD 8.5), but it's perfect for sharing, so it's still an economical meal.

Guilin Bamboo Rice

• Key Ingredients: Glutinous rice, minced meat, taro root, bamboo

The appeal of bamboo rice lies in both its taste and preparation. It's made by roasting a mixture of glutinous rice, meat, vegetables, and beans in a bamboo tube. The result is a rich, smoky flavor that infuses every bite of glutinous rice, making for a hearty and satisfying meal.

The best places to try this dish are actually a bit outside Guilin, in Longsheng County. If you do a rural homestay, you're bound to find plenty of it there. Some street vendors also sell it, and it costs about RMB 15 (about USD 2) per portion.

Delicious rice noodle rolls in Guilin

• Key Ingredients: Rice flour, meat, soy sauce and eggs

Rice noodle rolls, also called Cheong Fun, are popular in both Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, though the flavors differ slightly. In Guilin, the sauce is rich, made from shiitake mushrooms and soy sauce, and many people like to add homemade chili sauce when eating. Locals in Guilin often enjoy rice noodle rolls for lunch or dinner, and some shops even serve them as late-night snacks.

One well-known shop in Guilin is called Haitian Rice Noodle Rolls, which has been open for over a decade and is very popular among locals. The shop offers many flavors, such as beef, shiitake mushroom with lean pork, barbecued pork, and beef brisket, and you can even choose two flavors in one order. For those who don't eat meat, there are also fully vegetarian options.

Lipu Taro and Pork Loaf

• Key Ingredients: Braised pork belly, Lipu taro root, fermented bean curd, rice wine

We think this is one of the most delicious and unique dishes in Guilin, with layers of tender braised pork belly and lipu taro.

First, a whole slab of pork belly is deep-fried until the skin becomes crispy. Then, it's sliced into thick pieces about 1 inch wide and alternated with slices of taro. Everything is simmered in a rich sauce made of fermented bean curd and other seasonings, which infuses the dish with flavorful broth. As a result, the texture is silky and decadent, and it's the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

This dish is available at chain restaurants throughout Guilin, like Agan Restaurant and Chun Ji Roast Goose. It costs about RMB 50 (about USD 7) per serving. Lipu taro and pork loaf are meant to be shared, so it's a great dish to enjoy with family and friends.

Fried snails sold in night market in Guilin

• Key Ingredients: fresh-water snails, soy sauce, spicies, and pickles

Stir-fried river snails are a common dish at night markets and noodle shops, and they’re definitely worth a try. Usually, a portion costs around 10-20 RMB.

Eating them is not just about sipping the flavorful broth from the shells - you can also use a toothpick to pick out the meat inside.

Keep in mind that stir-fried snails are slightly spicy, and it’s recommended to wear disposable gloves while eating to avoid getting your hands dirty.

Guilin oil tea with different toppings

• Key Ingredients: Roasted tea leaves, oil, peanuts, ginger, salt

This oil tea is a savory, aromatic traditional beverage from ethnic minority groups in Guilin and has deep cultural meaning in the region. You'll find each sip warming and rich. Oil tea is made by pan-frying tea leaves with ginger and scallions in oil, then adding water to simmer it into a savory broth. It's especially popular during the winter, because it helps you keep warm on a chilly day.

Typically, you can enjoy Guilin oil tea at Xi Guoji, with a pot of oil tea costing RMB 39 (about USD 5.5) and including unlimited refills. Additionally, there are some delicious Guilin-style home-cooked dishes for you to try. Other restaurants may serve it by bowl, usually for RMB 2 to 3 (about USD 0.30 to 0.45) per serving.

Ma Ti Gao & other traditional Guilin desserts

• Key Ingredients: Water chestnut flour, sugar, diced fresh water chestnut

This traditional Guilin snack is made of a simple mixture of water chestnut flour, sugar and diced fresh water chestnut, and you'll occasionally find other elements, like osmanthus flowers, mixed in.

These cakes have a soft texture mixed with crunchy pieces of water chestnut. These water chestnuts are similar to apples and lend a crisp and juicy taste to the dish. You'll find it in the Xiangshan District for about RMB 3 (less than 50 cents) per serving. You can also find it at street stalls throughout the city's night markets, and many dessert shops and bakeries also sell it.

Getting ready for a sticky rice wrap

• Key Ingredients: sticky rice, tofu, soy sauce, pork sausage, beef, pickles, etc.

Sticky rice wraps are one of the most beloved breakfasts in Guilin. Although the preparation is simple, every ingredient plays an important role in the overall flavor. You can find sticky rice at many places - some shops specialize in it, while others sell it from small street carts. Typically, one portion costs about 4 RMB and comes with a mix of meat and vegetables. If you like spicy food, you can ask the vendor to add chili.

To make it, the vendor first scoops a layer of sticky rice into a bowl, adds toppings such as pickled long beans, dried tofu, meatballs, and sausage, then covers it with another scoop of rice. Finally, it's wrapped in a plastic bag and pressed into a compact ball.

4 bowls of Guilin sweet soup

• Key Ingredients: brown sugar, fruits (usually watermelon and mango), rice balls, jujube, nuts, etc.

Dessert soups are a very popular dessert in Guangxi, especially in summer. The most traditional versions feature fresh fruits, usually watermelon, mango, or Hami melon, combined with sticky rice balls and topped with coconut milk or brown sugar syrup. In the hot season, you can also choose an iced version for an extra refreshing treat.

If you'd like to try something more unique, go for pandan sweet soup. It's made with a green jelly created from the pandan herb and served with brown sugar syrup. Unlike the classic style, you can also add a splash of vinegar and some mint to give it a distinctive flavor.

Anyway, the price of dessert soup is relatively low, falling between RMB 8 and 12 (about USD 1.1 to 1.7) per serving.

While you can enjoy Guilin cuisine at sit-down restaurants throughout the city, there are several popular street foods that we definitely recommend for a delicious snack and an authentic experience.

Barbecue at Shijiayuan Food Street

A lively spot in Guilin known for its wide variety of local snacks and affordable street food. It's especially popular among students and young people looking for casual late-night eats.

A grocery store at Lequn Market

It's a traditional market packed with fresh ingredients and authentic Guilin flavors. There are stores selling snacks near this market. So, it's a great place to experience local daily life while tasting home-style dishes.

Yuexing Tribe Food Street

It's like a party hub with live music and traditional Guilin snacks. It has a vibrant atmosphere and is a favorite place for locals to gather with friends, especially for younger generations.

These helpful tips will help you make the most of your time in Guilin.

• Feel free to dine where the locals dine for a more authentic experience.
• Make sure that you specify what spice level you'd like.
• Drink oil tea early in the morning as a warming way to start the day.
• Bring cash, as some vendors in rural areas in Guilin may not accept cards.