Guilin Sweet Potato Noodles

Guilin Sweet Potato Noodles are a "common people's delight" for warming the stomach in autumn and winter. Made from pure sweet potato starch, the noodles are uniformly thick, transparent, smooth, and chewy, remaining intact even after long cooking. The most classic way to eat them is in spicy and sour soup with pickled bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, peanuts, and pickled cowpeas, or in a rich broth made from pork bones or chicken soup with sliced meat, greens, and quail eggs. The noodles themselves are mild and versatile, easily absorbing the essence of the soup: the spicy and sour version has a tangy, rich broth with bright red chili oil, where the noodles soak up the unique flavor of pickled bamboo shoots, hitting the taste buds with heat and sourness. The rich broth version is creamy and full-bodied, with the smooth noodles complementing the tender meat. In Guilin's noodle shops, foreign visitors often see diners sweating while enjoying large bowls of sweet potato noodles with pickled chili peppers and coriander. Especially on rainy days, a hot bowl of sweet potato noodles can instantly drive away the chill, offering the comforting power of street food.