柳州市

Why this place

Liuzhou is famous for luosifen — rice noodles in a broth made with river snails and fermented bamboo, which smells extremely strong and tastes extraordinary. It has become one of the most popular dishes in China. The city itself is an industrial one on a bend of the Liu River.

What to see

• The Liu River and the city's bend, with the old town and its temples
• The Miao and Dong villages of the northern counties, toward Guizhou
• The karst hills and the Dong villages with their drum towers and wind-rain bridges

What to eat

• Luosifen (snail rice noodles) — try it once, and you will have an opinion
• The local pickled bamboo and sour dishes; Liuzhou is also known for its 'liuzhou' beef

Best time

October–December and March–April