Liupanshui does not have a great variety of uniquely distinctive local snacks. However, among the luoguo (wok-grilled dishes) popular across Guizhou, the ones in Liupanshui enjoy the highest reputation. Potatoes are produced in abundance here, each weighing over 100 grams. Fried and roasted potatoes sold at roadside stalls turn golden and look tempting, with an inviting fragrance drifting from afar. Though Liupanshui mutton rice noodles are not as famous as those in Zunyi, they are made with local black goats, delivering an excellent flavor.

The original, most popular and traditional vessel for luoguo is an arch-shaped clay pot with a raised rim around the edge. Potatoes are an absolute must-have ingredient, alongside local fermented bean curd, alkaline tofu, assorted vegetables, crispy sausages and various meats. In recent years, nearly all kinds of ingredients can be cooked in this pot. While eating, diners add ingredients continuously and scoop the oil flowing down the pot’s sides back to the center. The grilled food turns out richly aromatic and flavorful.

A folk snack native to Liupanshui, Guizhou, Shuicheng mutton rice noodles have become a staple breakfast for local residents. It first emerged in the early 1980s. In the old days, local people rarely ate mutton, as goats were mainly used for folk rituals. People avoided mutton because they could not stand its strong gamy odor.

After the early 1980s, locals gradually figured out that coriander and garlic could mask the gaminess, and mutton rice noodle stalls soon thrived.

Legend has it that in the third lunar month of the 3rd year during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Wu Sangui led 30,000 troops to raid Shuicheng. An Xingyi and numerous Yi people of Shuicheng were trapped in the mountains. With no cooking pots available, they used roof tiles over fire to roast potatoes and other vegetables and meat with raw rapeseed oil to allay hunger. This makeshift cooking method unexpectedly created a delicious treat, which evolved into today’s Shuicheng luoguo. Spicy, fragrant and appetizing, the food is rich in oil yet never greasy, winning widespread popularity.

As you unwrap the lotus leaf, a delicate and appetizing aroma fills the air. The glutinous rice is soft and smooth, fully infused with the savory taste of chicken. The lingering faint fragrance of lotus leaf makes it refreshing and uniquely flavored. A time-honored famous snack in Pan County, it is enjoyed as a casual bite and also served as a classic dish at banquets.

This traditional snack from Guiyang features thin, chewy and crisp wrappers, tender fillings and savory yet light soup.