桂 is the short name for
广西 (Guangxi), after
桂林郡 (Guilin Commandery), set up in the area in the Qin dynasty. Rice noodles are the everyday staple, from
桂林米粉 (Guilin rice noodles) to
螺蛳粉 (river-snail rice noodles). Pickles such as sour bamboo shoots and pickled lemons give much of the cooking its sour taste, as in
柠檬鸭 (lemon duck).
