Beijing is renowned for the variety, long history, high quality ingredients and delicate production of its authentic local snacks. On sale in markets and temple fairs across the city, these snacks are known as "meeting food" among local people because they are such a common sight on the streets of Beijing.

Famous Beijing Snacks:

Wheat-based

Ai Wo Wo (Sticky Rice with Sweet Fillings), Zha Jiang Mian (Noodles with Bean Sauce), Lu Da Gun (Rolling Donkey), Wan Dou Huang (Pea-Flour Cake), Shao Mai, etc.

Boiled

Dou Zhi (Mung Bean Milk), Chao Gan (Stir-Fried Pork Liver), Bao Du (Boiled Lamb Tripe), Lu Zhu Huo Shao (Wheaten Cake Boiled in Meat Broth), etc.

Fried

Zha Gao (Fried Cake), Guan Chang (Peaking {not sure what this word means here? Maybe just "fried sausage" is ok?} Fried Sausage), Jiao Quan (Fried Dough Ring), Jiang Zhi Pai Cha (Fried Sugar Cake with Ginger), Mi Ma Hua/Tang Er Duo (Fried Sugar Cake), etc.

Drinks

Plum Syrup (Suan Mei Tang), Lotus Seed Porridge (Lian Zi Zhou)

Sugar-coated Haws on a stick (Bing Tang Hu Lu)

This food is so popular that it is almost an indispensable part of every Beijinger's childhood.

It was originally made mainly of Chinese hawthorn, but these days there are many different types including yam, orange, chufa, banana, Chinese gooseberry and so on.

It is not difficult to make sugar-coated haws on a stick. First you have to boil sugar into a syrup into which you roll the haws. Eventually the syrup cools down to form a transparent and crystalline layer over the haws.

Chinese hawthorns are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, which helps digestion.

The snack has a sweet and sour flavor, which has often been compared to the ups and downs of life.