Picturesque Guilin V: Guilin Snacks

If you have visited Guilin, You must taste the most famous snack-Guilin Rice Noodles, which is a staple of Guilin people's diet and is a wonderful and cheap dish. Besides of it, whether do you know other snacks in Guilin? In the article, we will talk about the Guilin snacks.

Chapter Five

Guilin Snacks

Guilin's central location in Ling Nan has given it a cuisine that is influenced by the food of Canton, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Fujian. In recent years, however, Sichuan and Cantonese dishes have become the most popular. The development of tourism, too, has had an effect on eating habits, as local snack foods are enjoyed by tourists from around the world.

Guilin Rice Noodles

Guilin Rice Noodles, which can be either round or flat, are the most popular snack in Guilin. The thing that sets one dish apart from another is the soup, which is made of pork, steak, Lo Han Kuo, and various seasonings. Depending on the ingredients used in the soup, rice noodles can be divided into vegetable, three-fresh, original soup, spicy and sour, beef, and horse meat rice noodles. The horse meat rice noodles of Huixian Lou are the most famous.

Beside Guilin Rice Noodles, nun noodles, chestnut glutinous rice dumplings (banli zong), stewed duck with gingko, lotus-leaf duck, and stewed duck with ginger are also famous and popular in Guilin. Some of the specialties of the region are described below.

Lipu Taro Pork

① Stewed duck with gingko is a traditional dish thought to be a remedy for lung problems. Gingko, cubes of duck meat, ham slices, and other ingredients are steamed in braising cups. The result is light but savory soup in which the tender duck meat contrasts pleasantly with the smooth, slightly slimy texture of the gingko.

② Lipu taro pork is made up of Lipu taro, pork, Guilin preserved bean curd, and various other ingredients. The pork and taro cubes are fried separately and then steamed together, so each piece is golden on the outside and soft and flavorful on the inside. Health benefits of this dish include extinguishing any "fire" (inflammation) in your body and improving your complexion.

③ Stewed clams and chicken is an award-winning dish of the region. A chicken, a pair of clams, preserved longan, and slices of ham are stewed with other ingredients in a covered porcelain pot for two hours. This mellow-flavored dish has many healthful benefits.

④ Lo Han boiled chicken, as the name implies, is steamed with traditional Chinese herb like Lo Han Kuo, astragalus, and codeonopsis pilosula. This refreshing soup can help to lower blood pressure.

Lo Han Boiled Chicken

⑤ Fried chicken with water chestnut uses Guilin water chestnut, quality chicken, fresh mushrooms, and other special ingredients. This dish is delicious and beautiful as well.

⑥ Duck wrapped in lotus leaf is very tasty and healthful. First, the duck is fried to a golden brown. Then cubes of lean pork, bamboo shoot, ham, taro, and mushroom; green beans; and shrimp are stir-fried with seasonings and stuffed into the duck, which is then wrapped with a lotus leaf and steamed. The unique fragrance of the lotus leaf permeates the tender duck meat, making this dish especially delicious.

⑦ Steamed pork with rice flour wrapped in lotus leaf is a traditional homemade dish. The pork is boiled and then stir-fried with soybean sauce, dipped into mung bean flour, wrapped in a lotus leaf, and steamed. The dish is rich but not greasy and helps to lower cholesterol.

Following are list the top 10 guilin snacks and some good dining places as your travel tips.

TOP 10 Guilin Snacks

TOP 1 Guilin Rice Noodles
The main feature of Guilin Rice Noodles is its sauce which is made from more than 36 Chinese medicine and special herbs. 

Fried Chicken with Water Chestnut

TOP 2 Duck wrapped in lotus leaf 
The unique fragrance of the lotus leaf permeates, making this dish especially delicious.

TOP 3 Fried chicken with water chestnut  
It uses Guilin water chestnut, quality chicken, fresh mushrooms, and other special ingredients.

TOP 4 Nun noodles 
The soup is then poured over the noodles, vegetables, and seasonings.

TOP 5 Stewed clams and chicken 
A pair of clams, preserved longan, and slices of ham is stewed with other ingredients.

TOP 6 Lipu taro pork 
It is made up of Lipu taro, pork, Guilin preserved bean curd, and various other ingredients.

TOP 7 Steamed pork with rice flour wrapped in lotus leaf 
It is boiled and then stir-fried with soybean sauce, dipped into mung bean flour.

Nun Noodles 

TOP 8 Sour fried dried fish 
Its smoked with fruit peels and then dried in the sun.

TOP 9 Fried meat floss with sweet-scented osmanthus 
It is a good appetizer with a glass of wine and is the highlight of this dish.

TOP 10 Stewed duck with gingko
Stewed duck with gingko is a traditional dish thought to be a remedy for lung problems.

Good Dining Places

Guilin Bravo Hotel Restaurant
Location: No.14 Rong Hu South Road
Style: Sichuan cuisine

Tong Lai Guan
Location: No. 4, Zhongshan Middle Road, opposite to Guilin Hotel

Guilin Ren Chain Restaurant

Style: Local snacks and traditional dishes

Lao Xiang Qin Restaurant
Location: southeast of Shizijie Square

Style: Beijng and Tianjin cuisine

Guilin Ren Chain Restaurant
The leading caterer in Guilin. The chain restaurants are spread throughout the city.

Hao Da Ma Cate Square
Location: Fl. 4, Bagui Building
Style: Buffet featuring a variety of snacks. Also from here, you can enjoy the bustling Center Square and Zhongshan Road.