One of Beijing’s most popular tourist spots, Donghuamen night market, is being shut down amid worries over food hygiene.
Best known for its selection of bizarre snacks – including spiders, scorpions and other bugs not traditionally eaten in Beijing – the popular market was deemed unsafe by Dongcheng District Food and Drug Administration and will be closed at the end of the month.
In addition to sanitation concerns, inspectors are also attributing the closure to complaints about noise and traffic around the market. Local residents have reported vendors shouting late into the night and jams of people and vehicles around the popular Wangfujing spot.
Yet, hygiene would appear to be the greatest concern (something most visitors can attest to anecdotally). Inspectors highlighted problems with the storage and disposal of food, which includes barbecued snake, deep-fried locusts and sea horses.
A little over a month ago, reports emerged that reconstruction work would be undertaken at Donghuamen to restore it’s “traditional appearance.” And while the latest news of closure has been accompanied by assurances that a reconstructed street will be built at the same location, there is no indication of whether the infamous snacks will remain.
[Image via Flickr]
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