PHOTOS: Hostage crisis on Beijing's Wangfujing shopping street

A dramatic hostage crisis took place last night on Beijing's famous (and famously crowded) Wangfujing shopping street.

The situation began at 9:22pm outside of the apm shopping mall on the pedestrianized drag.

Thousands flock around to watch the drama escalate, generally agreeing that it was far more entertaining than watching tourists awkwardly eat deep-fried scorpion and cockroach skewers.

A 38-year-old man surnamed Tan held a young woman at knife-point. According to reports, the two did not know each other.

At 9:57pm, as police were re-arranging crowd control tape, they caught Tan off guard and subdued him, freeing the hostage.

Authorities have began to look into Tan's background and motivations, but unfortunately no more is known at the moment about the Wangfujing hostage crisis.

Whether spectators were more relieved by the hostage's safe release or disappointed by the anti-climax also remains a matter of speculation.