A Chinese food street in which its vendors sell centipedes. scorpions and other fried insects have reopened after closing for 70 days due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Shops at the daily night market in Nanning, the capital of Jiangsu province, offer numerous classic Chinese snacks and dishes, such as grilled octopus, spicy crayfish, steamed dumplings and rice cakes.
But what it’s most famous for seems to be its ‘insect feast’. Stalls treat curious diners with all sorts of prepared dishes involving bugs, from spiders to silkworms.
Vendors also have to take it in turns to run their stalls and restaurants to keep social distancing. The management has divided all businesses into two groups. Each group is allowed to operate for one week before the other takes over.
Some Chinese people believe that insects are nutritious snacks because of their protein.
Other exotic food items in the market include grilled sea stars and urchins.
The Chinese government has temporarily banned the trading and eating of wild animal meat, a practice believed to have caused the pandemic.
The consumption of insects, which is also observed in various other countries in Asia, is still permitted in China.
