The cuisine of Guilin 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 cuisine is typified by its sweetness and delicate use of spices and chili. Bamboo leaves stuffed with sweet rice are a great Guilin snack available all over the city and also in some of the restaurants. The city also has some fine up-market restaurants where you can sample typical local dishes. The Guilin Hotel Restaurant has a nice environment in which to sample some local cuisine and the chicken balls with chestnut are especially good there.
If you fancy a break from Chinese food there are other delicious options available in Guilin. The Empire Garden Hotel Restaurant has fabulous Japanese and French restaurants where you can sample good food amidst an elegant environment. The little town of Yangshuo also has some surprisingly good Western-style restaurants where you can sit back and relax in peaceful and friendly surroundings. |
