Guiyang – A Renowned City for Chinese Cuisine

Guizhou's Guiyang is a city brimming with diverse street food, rich in local flavors and traditions. The people of Guiyang love sour and spicy foods, which help to expel moisture from the body and stimulate the appetite. Street food vendors commonly use local ingredients such as glutinous rice, rice noodles, pickled radishes, “zhe er gen” (a type of herb), and potatoes. Glutinous rice is used to make sticky rice dishes, rice cakes, and porridge, while rice noodles serve as the base for many noodle dishes.

Today, let me introduce you to some affordable street snacks. Actually, in Guiyang, I would recommend visiting the small street food stalls rather than large restaurants. These humble food stalls carry the true essence of the city’s vibrant street food culture. Guiyang’s street food scene, with its focus on potatoes, rice-based products, and marinated snacks, delivers a fantastic range of fresh, sour, spicy, and savory flavors, all made fresh to order. You can fill up for just 5-20 RMB (around $1-$3), making it a perfect choice for breakfast, a snack, or late-night cravings.

**1. Potato Chips (Fried Potato Slices):**

The potatoes used are local yellow-skinned varieties, known for their high starch content and crisp texture. They’re sliced thinly, soaked in water to remove excess starch (to avoid burning), and then fried in hot vegetable oil until golden and crispy. The magic happens with the seasoning: after frying, the chips are sprinkled with basic salt and MSG, then topped with chili powder, chopped “zhe er gen,” pickled radishes, green onions, and cilantro. A spoonful of secret red oil or sour soup is added at the end for a unique finish. These potato chips have a flavor that rivals those of Mexican-style chips. Locals rave about them, saying, "Guiyang potato chips are amazing! They taste 100 times better than regular chips. Freshly fried with a crispness that industrial chips can’t match, and the added ‘zhe er gen’ and pickled radish make them extraordinary!"

**2. Egg-wrapped Potato:**

This dish is one of the "creative street food highlights" of Guiyang. The steps are simple, but precision is key. First, steam the potatoes and mash them, then mix with salt, MSG, chili powder, chopped “zhe er gen,” and pickled radishes. Next, a thin layer of oil is brushed onto a skillet, and beaten eggs are poured in to make a thin egg wrap. Once the egg is cooked, the mashed potato mixture is placed in the center, and the egg is folded over like a little pillow, sealed at the edges, and fried until golden. The final touch is a drizzle of red oil or sweet soy sauce. The soft egg wrapping contains creamy mashed potatoes, with crispy textures from the “zhe er gen” and pickled radish. The result is a delightful mix of savory, spicy, and fragrant flavors. Locals say, “It’s better than a burger! Cheap, filling, and loved by students and workers alike. Just 5 RMB ($0.75) for one—unbeatable value.” It’s a perfect snack that can keep you full for hours, and it costs less than $1.

**3. Crispy Rice Cake (Guoba Ciba):**

This is Guiyang’s signature dessert. Here's how it's made: First, glutinous rice is soaked and steamed, then pounded into a smooth, stretchy paste using a stone mortar (machine-pounded rice paste doesn’t have the same texture). Next, a portion of the rice paste is shaped into a round, flat cake and fried until the outside is golden and crispy (this is the secret!). After frying, it is coated with a mixture of yellow soybean flour and white sugar, or sometimes dipped in brown sugar syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Some vendors even add crushed peanuts or walnuts for extra texture. The chewy, sweet taste is incredibly addictive. Locals say, "Just 5 RMB for one! Better than store-bought cakes, with that pure handmade flavor. One is enough to make you feel satisfied."

**4. Crispy Duck (Xiang Su Ya):**

Crispy duck is a popular snack found in many Chinese cities, but Guiyang's version is a local star, with "Dan Jia Xiang Su Ya" being the most famous. Here’s how it’s made: First, local ducklings are chopped into small pieces and marinated with salt, cooking wine, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon for at least 2 hours. Next, they’re coated in a light layer of starch (or egg wash + breadcrumbs), and deep-fried in hot vegetable oil until golden and crispy. The duck is then fried a second time to make it extra crispy. After frying, the duck is sprinkled with a secret spicy powder blend of Sichuan peppercorns, chili, and aromatic spices. This crispy duck is savory, fragrant, and slightly numbing, with the duck skin so crisp it flakes off, while the meat remains tender and flavorful. You’ll be hooked with each bite. It's surprisingly affordable too—just under $5 for a whole duck, which is enough for a family!

**5. Fermented Rice Cake (Nian Mi Bing):**

A popular breakfast item, these are made from pure rice. First, the glutinous rice is soaked, then ground into rice slurry, and fermented with a small amount of sweet wine yeast. Next, a thin layer of oil is brushed onto a skillet, and a scoop of the rice slurry is poured into the pan, frying until golden on both sides. After cooking, it’s served with brown sugar syrup, honey, or filled with red bean paste. This is another typical street dessert that's sure to satisfy your sweet cravings.

Most of these snacks can be found in Guiyang's old streets and alleys, like Minsheng Road, Caijia Street, and the Erqi Road snack street. If you plan to visit Guiyang, I highly recommend you bring a map (like Google Maps) and start your day early. That way, you can have breakfast, lunch, and even dinner in these areas, enjoying the best of what the city has to offer!