Ghost Street 簋街

Once I settled down, I asked the hostel guys where I can eat. As it turned out, the hostel is right behind a very famous food street. I probably sounded stupid for asking that but no matter. The food street is right along the main road exiting from the Beixinqiao 北新桥 subway station. You won’t miss it since there are a lot of lanterns which will lead the way.

The street is actually named Dongzhimen Inner Street 东直门内大街 but it is more popularly known as Ghost Street 簋街. The story is that back then the stores here would have lantern which looked eerie at night, earning them the name ghost fairs. Now the stores have turned into restaurants, which by day are deserted but are packed at night. Although it was named Ghost Street 鬼街 it wasn’t considered good to use 鬼 or ghost as a name of a place so they changed it to 簋 which sounds the exactly the same but has a totally different meaning.

The lights of Ghost Street light up the dark sidewalks of Dongzhimen Inner Street and you will be surely shouted at by staff from the restaurants urging customers in. No doubt that the restaurants here are pretty good but it would be difficult for one person to eat here. Prices normally go in the range of 50 or more. Of course, there are some shops which would have cheaper options, but this is mostly a higher end street.

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