Like most people, my impression of Liuzhou was limited to a single bowl of mouth-watering luosifen (snail noodles).
I'm sure many people have visited this city just for a bowl of noodles.
Let me tell you — Liuzhou is so much more than luosifen! I thought the same before arriving, vowing to eat luosifen for three days straight. The moment I stepped off the plane, the spicy, sour aroma of luosifen filled the airport air. But once you truly explore Liuzhou, you'll discover that this city is full of treasures.
Stylish Wuling MINI EVs are everywhere — they're the city's calling card. Liuzhou is one of China's top five automobile cities. Liuzhou Steel is also nationally famous, reportedly accounting for a quarter of Guangxi's total industrial output.
Despite being a typical industrial city, Liuzhou is surrounded by green mountains and clear waters. The jade-green Liu River flows through the city. In mid-July, the sun was blazing during the day, and people swam in the river. At night, even more people took to the water — it seemed as natural to locals as eating dinner.
My first visit to Liuzhou was for a business trip. On former colleagues' recommendation, I stayed at the Hyatt Place Liuzhou. The views from the 50th floor were truly breathtaking. If you get a west-facing room, you might even catch a stunning sunset.
Naturally, my first culinary mission was to demolish a bowl of luosifen. I went to Cao Mei Luosifen nearby, sweating through a 30-minute queue. Prices: small bowl 8 RMB, medium 8.5 RMB, large 9.5 RMB. Side dishes include fried pig trotters, duck feet, duck kidneys, fried eggs, braised eggs, tofu strips, and sausages. How did it taste? Authentic! 100% authentic! So good I wanted to explode on the spot. But what surprised me even more was the 'stir-fried luosifen' — even more amazing! Just writing about it makes my mouth water.
Beyond luosifen, Liuzhou has many other local specialties. Unfortunately, with work commitments, I didn't have time to explore more of the food scene, let alone sightseeing.
I had originally planned to visit the Liuzhou Industrial Museum but cancelled at the last minute. After work that evening, colleagues and I found a local restaurant for dinner. The night walk along the Liu River was delightful — locals truly know how to enjoy their evenings, with swimming, boating, music, singing, dancing, running, and strolling along the riverside.
On my last morning in Liuzhou, I woke up early to climb Panlong Mountain. I'd been drawn to the pagoda on its summit since first passing through the city. I took a taxi to Yaobu Ancient Town — this bustling commercial district was peacefully quiet at dawn. Following Baidu Maps to the mountain's base, I followed the signs uphill. It's a small mountain, taking less than 20 minutes to reach Wenguang Pagoda. But the climb was worth it — the panoramic view of Liuzhou from the top was spectacular.
My first Liuzhou trip ended with a growing list of places to visit next time: Longtan Park, the Luosifen Town Flight Camp, and Luzhai Xiangqiao Scenic Area.
Here's hoping I return to Liuzhou soon!
