Guizhou is a mountainous province in southwest China, known for the Huangguoshu Waterfall, karst landscapes, and the most diverse ethnic minority culture in the country, including Miao and Dong villages. Its capital Guiyang is a cool, green city and the transport hub for the province.
Guizhou cuisine, known as Qian cuisine, is defined by sour and spicy flavours. Sour broths fermented from tomatoes or rice water, pickled chili, glutinous rice and cured meats come from the Miao and Dong communities, while Guiyang adds street snacks such as changwang noodles, siwawa vegetable wraps, roast rice cake and beef rice noodles. Sour soup fish from Kaili is the region's signature dish, and the province is also the birthplace of the spicy chili sauce brand Lao Gan Ma.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Guizhou.
Suantangyu (Sour Soup Fish)
Fresh fish cooked at the table in a fermented tomato or rice-water broth with chili and wild herbs; red sour and white sour versions exist
Where to try: Old Kaili Sour Soup Fish / Lianghuanzhai (Kaili)
Price: CNY 80-130 per person (USD 12-19)
Changwang Noodles
Wheat noodles in a pork intestine and blood broth with crispy fried pork cubes, chili oil and scallion, a Guiyang breakfast staple
Where to try: Liuji Changwang Noodles / Nanmenkou Changwang Noodles
Price: CNY 15-25 (USD 2-4)
Siwawa
Thin rice-flour pancakes wrapped around shredded vegetables, pickles and chili sauce
Where to try: Miss Siwawa / Minsheng Road Food Street
Price: CNY 10-25 (USD 1.5-4)
Huaxi Beef Rice Noodles
Rice noodles in a savoury beef broth with chili oil and pickles
Where to try: Huaxi Wangji Beef Noodles
Price: CNY 12-20 (USD 2-3)
Qingyan Braised Pork Trotters
Pork trotters slow-cooked with medicinal herbs, the signature dish of Qingyan Ancient Town
Where to try: Qingyan Ancient Town main street
Price: CNY 15-25 per trotter (USD 2-4)
Zunyi Mutton Rice Noodles
Rice noodles in lamb broth, the signature breakfast of Zunyi
Where to try: Lamb noodle shops across Zunyi
Price: CNY 12-20 (USD 2-3)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Guizhou
Food tours & tastings in Guizhou
Eat your way through Guizhou with a guide.
Browse food experiences in GuizhouWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Roast Rice Cake (Guoba Ciba)
Sticky rice cakes grilled until crisp and dressed with chili and sauces
Find it at: Minsheng Road Food Street, Guiyang
Qingyan Tofu
Grilled tofu snack of Qingyan Ancient Town served with chili dip
Find it at: Qingyan Ancient Town
Grilled Skewers
Bamboo-skewered meats and vegetables grilled and spiced
Find it at: Tenglongwan Food Street / Qingyun Road Night Market, Guiyang
Siwawa
Rice-pancake vegetable wraps eaten on the go
Find it at: Minsheng Road and Caijia Street, Guiyang
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Qingyun Road Night Market
Late-night street-food area in Guiyang with more than 100 stalls and restaurants
Hours: Evenings until late
Minsheng Road Food Street (Haochi Food Street)
Yunyan District food street known for roast rice cake and siwawa
Hours: Daily, busiest afternoon to night
Tenglongwan Food Street
Sub-one-kilometre night-time food street of skewers, blood curd and spicy noodles
Hours: Evenings until late
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Fish dishes are normally priced per pot; ask the server about the red or white sour broth before ordering
Changwang noodles are a breakfast food; expect shops to close by early afternoon
Chili levels are high; request less spicy (shao la) when ordering
Most small shops accept Alipay and WeChat Pay only; carry a payment app or some cash
Check current addresses and opening status on a map app, as small shops move or close
- Vegetarian
- Limited; many stocks use pork or fish, but siwawa wraps, grilled tofu and stir-fried vegetables are easy to find
- Halal
- Available at Hui Muslim noodle and lamb shops, notably in Guiyang and Zunyi
- Gluten free
- Difficult; rice noodles are common but sauces and broths often contain soy sauce
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CNY 15-40 per meal (USD 2-6) | Noodles, siwawa and street snacks |
| Mid-range | CNY 80-130 per person (USD 12-19) | Sour soup fish and regional Guizhou restaurants |
| Upscale | CNY 200+ per person (USD 29+) | Banquet-style Guizhou dining in Guiyang |