In the summer season, night markets across China are always bustling and packed with people. It is the most exciting moment of a day. A night market is a good option for people to try local snacks or BBQ. It is the most distinctive folk nightlife culture in Chinese streets during the summer season, where you can ask several friends to drink some draft beers around a small table. The origin of night market can trace back to the Eastern Capital (today’s Kaifeng City) of the North Song Dynasty. People of that time could trade groceries, taste all manners of snacks, and play games at the night markets. According to The Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor, night markets of the Song Dynasty usually stayed open until the third watch (11pm-1am) and would reopen at the fifth watch (3am-5am in today's reckoning) while the most vibrant night market would stay open 24 hours a day. Night markets of the Song Dynasty were ablaze with light and surrounded by music for the whole night. Today, the night market is still the most vibrant place in most Chinese cities.
China’s vast territory guarantees very diverse cuisines across the country. The night market of a city is always the right place to taste the most authentic local delicacies.
Guijie is the most famous snack street in Beijing. Guijie ushers in its busy hours after 6 pm of each day. It offers a wide selection of renowned snacks across China. Except for such local snacks of Beijing like Luzhu Huoshao (stewed bread), Baodu (exploding stomach) and Yang Xiezi (braised lamb spine), Guijie is most famous for Mala crawfish and various types of barbecued kebab. Surrounded by the smoke from BBQ stalls and the fragrance of spices, you will definitely have a boosted appetite.
In the coastal city of Qingdao, local people are good at cooking all kinds of fresh seafood, which can meet visitors’ expectation for unique flavors. Beer and clam are the symbols of Qingdao cuisine. In the comfortable sea breeze, the nightlife of local people features with a dish of spicily-fried clam and some iced beer.
Nanjing, a city at the banks of Qinhuai River and once the capital for six ancient Chinese dynasties, is also a place famous for various local delicacies. You can have a walk down the snack street of the Confucius Temple and give a try to all kinds of famous snacks like Doufu Lao (Tofu pudding), Xiehuang Mian (crab noodle), Hui Lugan (spicy bean cheese), and among other things. The smells of the delicacies are so enticing that few people can resist the temptation to give them a try.
When it comes to night market snacks in China, Chengdu is a place that you must go. The local people of Chengdu are "notorious" for their obsession with food. Food stalls on the streets always pack with eager customers even after midnight. Night market snacks have become an integral part of the nightlife of the local people, who prefer all kinds of spicy food like Lengguo Chuanchuan (skewers in a cold pot), Bobo Ji (bobo chicken), Feichang Fen (rice noodle with pork intestine), Kao Naohua (smoked pork brain), and among other things. After eating the snacks, they love to have a bowl of iced rice noodle or iced desserts to counter the grease from the foods.
Due to their access to all kinds of tasty snacks, night markets always attract lots of people. Despite being a little bit vulgar and rowdy, night markets are the preferred places for ordinary Chinese to spend the summer time. Like-minded friends meet here, put aside troubling things in the day, and shoot the bull. In the pleasant night breeze, they heartily eat and drink and enjoy the leisure time.
The night market is a unique window to the daily life of ordinary Chinese. If you want to know more about a Chinese city, the night market is a place that you should never miss.
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