If you are feeling adventurous, the WangfuJing Snack Street or 王府井小吃街 (wángfǔjǐngxiǎochījiē) in downtown Beijing is an place to try new and exotic foods. Located just northeast of Tiananmen and the Forbidden Palace, 王府井 is a bustling area of 老北京 (old Beijing) coupled with massive and newly constructed mega-shopping complexes and hotels. For most people visiting or 参观 (cānguān) Beijing, you’ll probably find yourself lodging, dining and being shuttled through this area often.

The prices are a little steep compared to the rest of Beijing, but nowhere else can you find such an eclectic mixture of foods you didn’t think existed. I talked about 串儿 in much detail already, but there is much more to 王府井 than just meat on a stick. Like these scorpions or 蝎子 (xiē zi), which are coated in oil and deep fried (while still alive).

Mmmm….tastes like a cross between chicken and popcorn.

Wangfujing specializes in a variety of strange things, skewered and cooked on a stick. They have everything from starfish to sea-snakes, and almost every kind of insect imaginable, coated in sauce and bbqed for your snacking pleasure. If scorpions don’t float your boat, here are some other treats that I recommend trying next time you visit Wangfujing Snack street):

Fried Ice Cream （炒冰淇淋 bīngqílín)

Grilled Oysters on the halfshell （半牡蛎 banmǔlì)

Rock “rich and influential" crab （富贵蟹 fùguìxiè）

Steamed buns （包子 bāozi)

Or you can chow down on some creepy crawlies