After the excitement of night fishing along the Li River, all of us were tired, slightly cold, and very hungry. We crossed back to this side of the river where our hotel was, shoes still damp and cheeks tingling from the night air. The staff suggested dinner at the private dining restaurant in their sister hotel just a short walk down the same road, a few hundred metres after the bend. We were staying at 墨池。奢, and this was 墨池。简. Nothing fancy, they said. Just good local food.

It turned out to be the best meal we had in Guilin.

We started with the bamboo chicken soup. Clear, golden, and quietly fragrant, served straight from a section of bamboo. One sip and the chill from the river disappeared. It was comforting and honest, the kind of soup you want on a cold night after a long day out. Then came the beer duck, bubbling gently over a small stove, rich and warming, perfect for slow eating and sharing.

The pork dishes surprised us the most. The sweet and sour pork with passion fruit was bright and refreshing, the pork crisp on the outside yet tender inside. A clever twist that worked beautifully. Even the simplest plates, the stir fried vegetables and tomato with eggs, were cooked with care and confidence. Nothing tried too hard, yet everything tasted right.

We sat there longer than planned, talking about the day, about the river, about how food always seems to taste better when you are a little tired and very content. Sometimes the most memorable meals are not the grand ones, but those that feel personal and sincere.

If you are staying around Xingping, I would really recommend staying here. Good rest, warm hospitality, and food that makes you feel quietly happy.