China Guide
Guangxi and Guizhou
Food and drink
1 Aomen Shijie Xinhua Lu Popular place serving Cantonese-style snacks, including a host of dumplings, roast meats and quick-fried greens. Price: Dishes ¥5–25
2 Dadongbei Cnr Chaoyang Lu and Hua Dong Lu Jiaozi with big range of stuffings, ordered by the liang (50g), cold dishes such as spiced cucumber, spinach with peanuts, whole roasted aubergine, glass noodles, sliced beef with soy dressing, and preserved eggs, plus mammoth servings of mutton. Price: A meal for two, with beer, comes in around ¥35
3 Meilihua (aka Mayflower) Cnr of Minzhu Lu and Chaoyang Square The English-language menu, listing such things as noodle soups, fried rice, steak platters and florid desserts – including refreshing "snow ice", a Southeast Asian treat of shaved ice drizzled with luridly coloured syrups – and low prices make this a favourite with expats. Price: Most dishes are under ¥15
4 Qingzhen Canting Xinhua Lu Inexpensive Muslim restaurant on the ground floor of the pale green mosque. Their English menu is pretty comprehensive; the lemon duck, marinated cucumber and chicken soup with lily buds are tasty and well presented. Price: ¥25 a head
5 V-Touch Cafe Xinmin Lu Good coffee and set Chinese meals, wireless Internet and calm atmosphere make this a nice place to chill out on a hot day – there's also an "English Corner" here every Saturday from 9–11am for local Chinese and students who want to practise their English with any foreigners who turn up.