"Guilin's roast-goose standard-bearer since 1999; come for crisp-skinned goose and a round table of Gui-cuisine classics, not for a quiet dinner."
About Chunji Roast Goose
Chunji Roast Goose (椿记烧鹅) was founded in Guilin in 1999 by Shi Yongwen, who had trained as a cook from his teens, and grew into one of the city's defining restaurant names. It is counted among China's top-ten brands of Gui cuisine — the cooking of Guangxi — and now runs several branches across Guilin, with the Zhongshan Road location its best-known address.
The kitchen blends Hunan heat and Cantonese roasting technique with local Guilin flavour, and the open kitchens put a brigade of cooks in plain view. This is a busy, popular room built for groups and families rather than for intimacy, and it stays packed enough that booking ahead is wise.
The Kitchen
The signature is the roast goose — lacquered skin shattering over tender, juicy meat that stops short of greasy, the dish that built the name. Around it sit a crispy durian cake, custard buns, and goose liver fried with sauce, plus a long card of Gui-cuisine staples that draw on Guangdong and Hunan cooking alike.
The cooking is honest and produce-led rather than refined: roasting and frying done well, at volume, for a crowd that knows the goose by reputation. Order it whole or by the half to share, and build the rest of the table around it with vegetables and rice.
The Room
The dining rooms are large and lively, built around the lazy-Susan rounds that Chinese group meals run on, with open kitchens where more than thirty cooks work in view. Service is brisk and banquet-paced; the mood is bustling and informal, the sound of a restaurant that is rarely empty.
It is a local institution as much as a restaurant — a name Guilin residents reach for when feeding a group — so expect a full room at peak and a wait without a reservation. Several branches across the city run to the same template.
Best for a Team Dinner
A shared roast goose and a round table of Gui-cuisine plates make Chunji a natural team dinner or a relaxed business lunch with local colleagues. It also handles a birthday gathering well — book a larger table, order the goose whole, and let the group graze.
Not for
Not for a quiet dinner for two or a hushed special occasion — the rooms are large, loud and built for groups, and the goose is best shared.
Frequently Asked
What is Chunji Roast Goose known for?
Its crisp-skinned roast goose, the dish that made the name since 1999. The kitchen also turns out crispy durian cake, custard buns and goose liver fried with sauce, alongside a broad menu of Gui-cuisine classics.
How much does a meal cost?
Around ¥60–120 per person for a shared meal with the goose as the centrepiece. It sits at the affordable-to-mid range for Guilin and offers good value for a group.
Where is Chunji Roast Goose in Guilin?
The best-known branch is on Zhongshan Road in central Guilin, with several other outlets across the city all tracing back to the 1999 original.
Do I need to book?
Booking is advised, especially at weekends and dinner. The restaurant is a local favourite and the rooms fill quickly; walk-ins may face a wait at peak times.
Is the roast goose the thing to order?
Yes — order it whole or by the half to share, then build the table around it. The roast goose is the reason the restaurant exists and the dish to lead with.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Chunji Roast Goose
Reserve by phone, especially for weekends and larger tables; ask to pre-order the roast goose.
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Practical Information
AddressZhongshan Middle Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin
NeighbourhoodZhongshan Road, central Guilin
CuisineGuilin / Cantonese
Price~¥60–120 per person
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingLarge dining rooms with round tables and open kitchens
ReservationRecommended, especially weekends
