Guilin Cold Noodle Salad

Guilin Cold Noodle Salad is a "refreshing staple" in summer, with smooth rice noodles tossed in rich seasonings—spicy, sour, and appetizing. To make it, dried rice noodles are soaked in hot water, rinsed in cold water to cool, drained, then mixed in a bowl with pickled cowpeas, pickled bamboo shoots, fried peanuts, scallions, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, etc. The magic is in the seasoning mix: pickled veggies add tang, peanuts crunch, chili oil brings heat—all flavors collide harmoniously. The chewy noodles soak up the seasonings, each bite spicy and sour—perfect for hot days. It's a must-order at Guilin noodle shops; some add braised beef or char siu for extra richness. Cooler than soup noodles, it's a popular summer street food. Foreigners will enjoy the "dry-tossed" style, finding it like a "Chinese cold noodle salad"—simple noodles elevated by diverse seasonings.