Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉) are the dish that defines the city's food culture, eaten by most locals for breakfast and available from tiny shopfronts across the city from six in the morning. The noodles are smooth, round, and white — made from rice flour — and come in a rich broth built on pork bones simmered with spices for many hours. The assembly is the point: you add chili paste, soy sauce, pickled bamboo shoots, peanuts, scallions, and sliced braised pork or beef from a row of condiment jars on the counter.
Almost every shop has its own version of the broth, and regulars have strong opinions about which is best. Look for shops with a crowd of locals eating standing up or perched on plastic stools — those are the reliable ones. A full bowl costs around six to ten yuan. Do not leave Guilin without having at least one proper noodle breakfast.