Eating Scorpions and Centipedes in Beijing’s Night Market

Posted by Julia on Jun 2, 2010 in Travel

Julia Dimon eating starfish at Donghuamen Night Market Beijing
Donghuamen Night Market boasts dozens of stalls selling some of the world’s most exotic snacks: from silk worm, to scorpion, starfish to centipede, you can find it and TRY it, here!

I just got back from a week’s worth of adventures in China. I was filming a series of episodes for the online travel series “Destination Getaway” on MSNBC. While we did a ton of cool stuff, from exploring China’s contemporary art scene to taking on the Great Wall by motorbike,  one of my trip highlights was a visit to the Donghuamen Night Market

Located just west of the popular shopping street Wang Fu Jing, this quirky culinary market is the place to go for street snacks. Sure they serve more common things like dumplings, noodles and fresh strawberry kabobs, but I was there to try some of their ‘grossest’ foods! I started with a silk worm, a mealy tasting mouthful that smelled like wet dog. Followed by a sampling of sea snake (taste’s just like sole but with too many bones). A crowd gathered as a scarfed down a starfish, a cockroach, a centipede and a scorpion. I’ve earned a bit of a reputation for having an ‘iron gut.’ I’m a huge fan of unusual foods and if there’s something strange to be eaten, I’m on it! Here are some of the pictures….

Donghuamen Night Market Beijing

Donhuamen Night Market is a series of stalls selling street food. It’s most popular with tourists, Chinese and foreigners alike.

Julia Dimon Filming in Donghuamen Night Market Beijing

Me, with the MSNBC crew, filming at the market, getting ready to try the centipede….the most challenging of all the nasty little grubs I ate that day.

Scorpions and silk worms at Donghuamen Night Market Beijing

Vendors scream out things like “lamb’s penis” in an attempt to lure potential customers. All the prices are marked. Scorpions, like the ones pictured here, are around $5 US.

Beetles at Night Market China

Starfish in Donghuamen Night Market

Be aware that the night market sells some controversial items like shark meat. Be a responsible traveler and don’t purchase it! Marine life is fragile and as travelers we should be weary of what kind of industries our tourist dollars are inadvertently supporting. That said, I did try starfish…which I’m not terribly comfortable with…so I urge you to think about ethics and environment before you snack.

Scorpions at Donghuamen Night Market Beijing

Eating Scorpion in Beijing

Looking totally crazed, I’m getting ready to eat a giant scorpion.

I may eat these creepy crawlies but can I keep ‘em down? Stay tuned for the video which will be released on MSNBC in mid-June!!

What’s the strangest, most exotic, ‘grossest’ thing you’ve eaten when traveling? Leave your comments below….



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  • Janice
    Yikes! That scorpion looks fierce even when its already cooked! I admire your courage to try all those exotic treats. Those are certainly not for the squeamish.

    You may also want to try the tarantulas in Sihanoukville, Cambodia (http://www.sihanoukville.info/). Just mentioning the name alone gives me the creeps.
  • juliadimon
    Thanks for your suggestions Janice! Tarantulas will be next :)
  • sojournrentals
    Hi Julia,

    Your such an amazing woman. Very adventurous lady! I enjoy watching your photos. Thanks for sharing your trip to us! keep it up!

    Thanks,
    http://www.SojournVacationRentals.com
  • juliadimon
    For those wondering what these creepy crawlies tasted like...

    The scorpion was very crunchy- it was a bit like biting into a hard pebble. The scorpions were so well fried that the taste was similar to anything that's been deep fried and oily. I'm not going to lie, though, I needed a beer to wash that one down.

    The texture of the starfish was comparable to what I imagine a fish stick might feel like after being left out on the kitchen table for a week...

    My stomach was feeling surprisingly fine after all those tasty snacks! I still had an appetite for Peking Duck afterward and kept everything I ate that night down.

    Nothing is quite as difficult to eat as the balut, an 18 day-old duck egg. Still trying to forget about that one :)


  • Ernesto Coronado
    Loved your comment on the balut! LOL !!! you sure have a great sense of humor and I really love your wording style-

    Congratulations for the quality of your articles and I was wondering if you knew an interesting destination (more like an exotic one ) in Mexico. I am a mexican but haven´t done as much traveling around the territory as I´ve done around the world (I know.. it´s sounds disgustingly dumb...) any suggestions Julia !?

    Recieve my best
  • juliadimon
    Have you checked out the witches market in Mexico City? That's unusual...check out the article I wrote about my experience. http://www.traveljunkiejulia.com/witches-market-in-mexico-city-is-love-in-the-air/
  • Alex
    Hi Julia,

    I'm glad you tried some of the more curious culinary treats that Beijing has to offer! I'm looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip to Beijing (especially the sojourn with the Beijing Hash!).

    On-On!
  • That market rocks! I have eaten a few weird things, perhaps the oddest being a tarantula in Cambodia http://www.youtube.com/kokiwebs#p/u/5/f-6M9VQz79I . Yet balut was a less fun experience and insect larvae taste horrible. Did you eat a full stick of beetles? I don't think I could do that...

    Happy travels,

    Federico
    maitravelsite.com
  • Ernesto Coronado
    wow... if compared to more conventional food.. how do scorpions taste like!?

    Smiles

    Ernesto Coronado
  • whimsical
    I've eaten "balut" in Philippines, fried frog and usual but bacon flavored cricket in Canada. I cant imagine the texture of the starfish when you eat it. I salute you.
  • OMG, yikes!!!!! I've been to that market several times now just to take pics, not to partake. You're quite brave!
  • That is one crazy menu! How was your stomach feeling after that? I ate crickets in Cambodia and guinea pig in Peru, but starfish and scorpions definitely take the cake!
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