Guangxi cuisine is known for sour flavors, fresh ingredients, and unique ethnic minority dishes. Guilin's food is milder than Sichuan but packed with unique flavors.
1. Guilin Rice Noodles (桂林米粉)
Guilin's signature dish! Round rice noodles in rich beef bone broth with pickled vegetables, peanuts, and chili. Add vinegar for the authentic sour-sweet flavor. Breakfast of champions.
Where: "Lǎo yú mǐ fěn" (老友米粉) in Guilin. Any local shop.
Price: ¥8-15 / $1.10-2
2. Beer Fish (啤酒鱼)
Fresh river fish (grass carp) cooked in beer, tomatoes, and chili. Yangshuo's most famous dish. The fish is tender, the broth is rich and slightly sweet. You'll see billboards everywhere — follow the locals' recommendation.
Where: West Street restaurants. Ask locals for their favorite.
Price: ¥68-98 / $9.50-14 (for two)
3. Stuffed snails (田螺酿)
River snails stuffed with pork and herbs. A unique Yangshuo specialty. The snail meat is chewy, the filling is savory. An acquired taste but worth trying!
Where: Small restaurants in Yangshuo old town.
Price: ¥25-35 / $3.50-5
4. Oil-Pan Chicken (干锅鸡)
Chicken stir-fried with chilies, garlic, and herbs in a sizzling clay pot. Crispy skin, tender meat, and spicy throughout. Serves 2-3 people.
Where: Local restaurants in both Guilin and Yangshuo.
Price: ¥58-88 / $8-12
5. Water spinach with Fermented Soybean (腐乳空心菜)
This dish exists everywhere in China, but Guilin's water spinach is exceptionally fresh and tender. The fermented bean curd adds umami and a slight sweetness.
Where: Any restaurant. Can't go wrong.
Price: ¥15-20 / $2-2.80
6. Lotus Leaf Rice (荷叶饭)
Rice cooked inside a lotus leaf with chicken, mushrooms, and Chinese sausage. Fragrant, moist, and slightly sweet. A Yao ethnic minority specialty.
Where: Longji villages, or specialty restaurants.
Price: ¥28-38 / $4-5.30
7. Taro & Pork Stew (荔浦芋扣肉)
Large芋头 (taro) sliced and layered with fatty pork, steamed until meltingly tender. The taro absorbs the pork fat — rich, comforting, and uniquely Guangxi.
Where: Traditional restaurants, especially in Lipu (荔浦).
Price: ¥48-68 / $6.70-9.50
8. Water Buffalo Meat Hotpot
Water buffalo is native to Guilin and considered a delicacy. Lean, tender, and slightly sweet. Best in a hotpot with local herbs and mushrooms.
Where: Specialty hotpot restaurants in Guilin.
Price: ¥88-128 / $12-18 per person
9. Cakes & Snacks (桂林糕点)
Traditional cakes like 桂花糕 (osmanthus cake), 糍粑 (rice cake), and 粽子 (rice dumpling). Available at morning markets — authentic and cheap.
Where: Morning markets in Guilin.
Price: ¥3-8 / $0.40-1.10 per item
10. Fresh Fruit — Longan & Lychee
Guangxi is China's fruit basket. Longan (龙眼) and lychee (荔枝) are grown locally and taste incredible when fresh. Available June-August.
Where: Roadside stalls, markets.
Price: ¥5-10 / $0.70-1.40 per pound
11. Liu Sanjie Gingko Nut Chicken
Chicken stewed with gingko nuts (银杏) and herbs. The gingko adds a buttery, slightly bitter flavor. A specialty from the Liu Sanjie area.
Where: Restaurants near the Liu Sanjie scenic area.
Price: ¥68-98 / $9.50-14
12. Osmanthus Tea & Desserts
Guilin is famous for osmanthus flowers (桂花). Try osmanthus tea, osmanthus cake, osmanthus pudding. Sweet, floral, and refreshing after a day of exploring.
Where: West Street cafes, tea houses.
Price: ¥15-25 / $2-3.50
