17 Bizarre and Weird Foods in China That People Love to Eat

The unusual foods are eaten in China as usual. There is a famous saying and it is proven true, “the Chinese eat everything with four legs, except tables and chairs, and everything that flies, except airplanes.” If eating were an Olympic sport, no other country would come close except China. You’ve never seen a nation show so much dedication to consuming anything that walks, crawls, flies swims, slithers, or grows in my whole life until you traveled to China.  You’ll quickly discover some familiar dishes that will be your go-to when you’re struggling for other options when you’re in China. If I have one piece of advice, it’s to get outside your comfort zone. This article on famous bizarre foods in China, which you can taste when traveling: 

Famous Weird Foods to eat in China

1. Silkworms

In many cultures, various insects are considered a delicacy. Silkworms are one of those insects, and they are enjoyed by the locals in China. The flavor of this weirdest food in China is like shrimp or crab and has a chewy consistency. Silkworms can be found in local markets cooked in several ways or stocked frozen and canned. With your favorite vegetables, soy sauce, and seasonings, Chinese-style silkworms are added to a stir-fry. It’s normally served up with rice or noodles, or the pupae can be deep-fried and served with your choice of dipping sauce. 

2. Thousand-Year-Old Eggs or Century Eggs

Duck eggs coated with lime, ashes, and mud, soaked in brine for 100 days until the yolk turns green and the whites become gelatinous and dark brown. This strange food from China has a creamy cheese flavor with a strong smell. Sound inviting? If you ever travel to China you must taste. 

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3. Sheep Penis

The Chinese have a bizarre food that may help if you are looking to boost libido. Sheep penis along with other animal penises and testicles are served as a remedy for the problem. Guolizhuang, a restaurant in China is dedicated to serving all types of dishes such as sheep gonads on a bed of curry and steamed sheep penis. The locals enjoy the flavor of this unusual food in China, but they also believe it is good for one’s health. Many of the customers at the restaurant are males looking to increase potency and sexual prowess. The Chinese believe testicles and penises are consumed to improve sexual health. 

4. Beggar’s Chicken

From a story of a beggar in Hangzhou, the origins of Beggar’s Chicken can be derived. The beggar who had no equipment other than a knife and fire to cook it, so he solved the problem by slaughtering and gutting the chicken, before wrapping it in yellow mud and roasting it, so it appeared somewhat like an oversized potato Beggar’s Chicken is typically served on a lotus leaf, a must-try if you’re heading to Hangzhou. This most unusual food in China has a savory aroma and is often eaten with rice and vegetables.

5. Pi Dan

Also known as century egg, Pi Dan is a traditional Chinese food that boasts a unique color and fragrance. It is usually a duck or chicken eggs preserved in a mixture of clay,  alkaline material, ash, and salt. Depending on the processing time, the eggs yolk may appear yellow, dark green, or brown but the center is normally soft in all colors. Refreshing, smooth, delicious, and salty are words that normally describe the unique food in China. If the eggshell remains unbroken Pi Dan can be preserved up to five months.

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6. Snake Soup

Especially during the winter to warm up more commonly eaten in Hong Kong, this soup is considered somewhat of a gourmet dish. The soup which is one of the most unusual foods that only exist in China is served with a snake shredded inside and many say it tastes like chicken.

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7. Bird Spit Soup

One of the more controversial bizarre foods in China is the bird’s nest soup. This strange soup is made from a swiftlet’s actual nest. This small bird lives in dark caves like a bat and is found in Southeast Asia. Their nests are made from their own gummy saliva produced by the glands under their tongue. The nest of saliva hardens as it is exposed to the air. The common way to cook bird’s nest soup is slowly steaming it after soaking it in water. It is believed to help maintain youth and promote a healthy life and a strong body if the soup is consumed regularly.

8. Bamboo Rice

This odd food includes rice and pork and creates a fragrant and wholesome outcome and always cooked until the bamboo is seared. To try the best Bamboo rice when traveling China, head to Yunnan province, Guilin, Guizhou province, and Taiwan. This bizzare food to eat in China is one to keep in mind for those with less adventurous taste buds – or as a failsafe option when nothing else seems appealing.

9. Scorpions

While walking the streets of China, find scorpions to be a tasty treat for those looking for something crazy to snack on. These fried small scorpions are served on a skewer stick. You can find this food on the streets of popular cities like Beijing, Shanghai, etc.. Thin scorpions are turned crispy with a nice seasoning. It is believed that eating strange street foods in China can make the blood hotter in cold conditions and can cure certain medical conditions.

10. Stinky Tofu

Stinky tofu is one of the most popular snacks and most unusual foods that only exist in China. The smell of the popular street food can be spotted from a block away. Basically this traditional dish is tofu fermented in a mixture of milk and a vegetable, meat, and fish-based brine, or a combination of these ingredients. It can also be found steamed, stewed, or served in a soup. Biting into stinky tofu feels like biting into a piece of soft cheese and tastes best when served with sauce or toppings. 

11. Roasted Street Bird or Whole Pigeons

Yes, only because if you love the food served on a stick, this had to make it to your list. You may find this one quite impressive and most unusual foods in China because it is an entire street bird threaded on a stick, dipped in a marinade for all that flavor, and roasted.

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12. Chicken Testicles

KFC offers several types of chicken on the menu, but you’ll have to search for other places in China to find chicken testicles. These juicy delicacies are said to improve a woman’s skin tone and enhance male prowess. Their size ranges anywhere from one to two inches long and they are available in both pink and black. This weird food in China lightly cooked to keep them tender and juice will ooze into your mouth as you take the first bite. They will offer a mild flavor and are best served with rice, noodles, or even both after boiling or frying the chicken testicles.

13. Balut

Adopted by the Philippines in the 17th century, Balut is a Chinese dish. It is now considered a national dish of the Philippines. It’s also said the origin is from Chinese’s “Maidan,” or “feathered egg.” It may sound sickening to eat a partially developed duck, but in many places such as China, this dish is considered a delicacy. The fertilized egg is eaten while the egg is still warm and boiled for about 25 minutes. The yolk portion of this weird food from China is described as rich and creamy with an overall mild taste.

14. Fried Seahorse

A seahorse is found on China streets as a snack and is one of the cutest small marine fish found in the sea. Seahorse is very salty and has a squid-like consistency.  Found at several street markets, they are mostly found in soups or on kabobs and. Seahorses have sharp pieces that can get caught in your gums or teeth so you must be careful when consuming. The Chinese also believe there are great benefits to eating this weird food China eats and one Chinese proverb says that eating seahorse can keep an 80-year-old grandad young. 

15. Turtle Shell Jelly

Also known as guilinggao, Turtle Jelly or tortoise jelly is a Chinese jelly-like dessert. It is traditionally made from several herbal products and various types of turtle’s bottom shell. This unique dish is also used for its medicinal purposes in China. It is said to be able to improve circulation, restore kidney functions, and assist muscle growth. Many believe that regular consumption of this strange food of China can improve skin by giving it a healthier complexion. 

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16. Bat Soup

After boiling with chicken broth, Bat soup contains an entire bat placed in a soup bowl. The broth is eaten with a spoon and the bat is dissected with a knife and fork, along with the innards of the creature. Along with the membranes of the bat’s wings, hair is present in the dish. This weirdest food eaten in China is allegedly rather delicious, but we are forced to conclude that it is very unappetizing to see an entire bat floating in front of us.

So far we have discussed the unusual foods in China, which contains the proper information regarding all the famous strange foods in China. I hope you might have loved reading this article and if you love to know more about China then kindly head to our other articles as well which will help you to get knowledge about.

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