Exotic Food in Downtown Beijing
Chinese Food used to be exotic in itself but with takeaways everywhere this isn't the case nowadays.
If you want really exotic food though, China is the place to come, and there's nowhere better to start your tasting experiences than right in the heart of the nation's capital.
Beijing's Wangfujing Dajie is a popular shopping street for visitors.
It can be found just East of Tiananmen Square and is easily reached by taxi or the efficient metro system.
During the daytime, you will find some exotic foods on display in Snack Street, a side alley off to the west side of Wangfujing Dajie.
For a more interesting atmosphere, go in the evening.
A whole series of stalls set up each day at the north end of the pedestrian section.
It's more fun to walk up and down these, taking photos and trying as many items as you feel brave enough to try.
So, what's on offer? To name just a few...
You will not see dogs or cats, nor any other 'cute' animals.
Most of what you see has been eaten in China for generations, often in the belief that there are health benefits.
You can treat the experience as a bit of fun.
If you do want to try gou rou (dog meat) then find a Korean restaurant.
There are plenty to choose from.
They are easily distinguished by the extractor fans sitting over each table.
The meat is served ready for your BBQ and is hard to distinguish from any other red meat.
It is a warming food and therefore not typically eaten in summer.
Whatever you get up to in Beijing, don't forget to go to Wangfujing Dajie and check out the exotic food.
You don't have to eat it all but you should take lots of photos whenever you do, and impress your friends and family back home.
If you want really exotic food though, China is the place to come, and there's nowhere better to start your tasting experiences than right in the heart of the nation's capital.
Beijing's Wangfujing Dajie is a popular shopping street for visitors.
It can be found just East of Tiananmen Square and is easily reached by taxi or the efficient metro system.
During the daytime, you will find some exotic foods on display in Snack Street, a side alley off to the west side of Wangfujing Dajie.
For a more interesting atmosphere, go in the evening.
A whole series of stalls set up each day at the north end of the pedestrian section.
It's more fun to walk up and down these, taking photos and trying as many items as you feel brave enough to try.
So, what's on offer? To name just a few...
- Squid: If you are a fan of Calamari then you will know that squid is in fact very tasty.
It should never be cooked for too long else it does become a bit rubbery. - Scorpion: Yes, the real thing, with the nasty tail clear to see.
Don't worry about the poison; cooking breaks this down.
Scorpions are a warming food and good for when the weather changes to cold, or to correct an imbalance in your system. - Cicada: The large and noisy bugs look frightening and completely unpalatable.
Only the truly brave will eat this down, though there really is nothing to fear.
I suspect that these are a recent addition to the menagerie as no-one seems able to explain the supposed benefit of eating Cicada. - Starfish: You have seen them on the beach.
Now you can see them on sticks.
I know which I prefer.
Again, purely for novelty, as far as I can tell. - Seahorse: Strangely, the shape of the seahorses tail has given rise to the belief that eating seahorses assists with men's sexual prowess.
Strange - but here's your chance to find out.
You will not see dogs or cats, nor any other 'cute' animals.
Most of what you see has been eaten in China for generations, often in the belief that there are health benefits.
You can treat the experience as a bit of fun.
If you do want to try gou rou (dog meat) then find a Korean restaurant.
There are plenty to choose from.
They are easily distinguished by the extractor fans sitting over each table.
The meat is served ready for your BBQ and is hard to distinguish from any other red meat.
It is a warming food and therefore not typically eaten in summer.
Whatever you get up to in Beijing, don't forget to go to Wangfujing Dajie and check out the exotic food.
You don't have to eat it all but you should take lots of photos whenever you do, and impress your friends and family back home.
