Guilin Stir-Fried Fenli

Guilin Stir-Fried Fenli is a traditional snack full of street-side 烟火气 (yanhuo qi, literally "smoke and fire atmosphere," meaning vibrant street food culture). Made from rice, Fenli is a cylindrical rice noodle created through soaking, grinding, steaming, and kneading, with a texture between rice noodles and rice cakes—flexible and chewy. To stir-fry, Fenli is sliced or cut into strips and cooked with cured meat, pickled cowpeas, green garlic, carrots, and other ingredients. The salty aroma and 油脂 (yóuzhī, fat) of the cured meat penetrate the Fenli, while the sourness of pickled cowpeas and the freshness of green garlic enhance the flavor, with crispy carrots adding texture. Controlling the heat is key: high heat quickly fries the Fenli to a slight 焦香 (jiāoxiāng, caramelized aroma) on the outside while keeping the inside soft and glutinous. Each bite bursts with a mix of flavors on the tongue. This dish is commonly found in Guilin's street stalls and breakfast shops. Foreign visitors are often drawn to its unique texture and can enjoy it with a bowl of bone soup or soy milk for an authentic Guilin breakfast experience.