Sign in
A whole street of restaurants
"Guijie" (literally "Ghosts' street") is a street in northeast Beijing's Dongzhimen area which boasts a huge number of restaurants . There are almost a hundred eateries spread over a stretch of street of less than a kilometre, and all are open 24 hours. No other place in Beijing offers such a large collection of restaurants in the same place.
"Guijie" offers a quintessential range of Chinese cooking in Beijing. Here, gastronomy is quite avant-garde. Dishes and other ingredients we eat in other Beijing restaurants were initiated in "Guijie".
It's a very popular place. People like to stroll around after dinner or to have a chat over a cup of tea until late into the evening. Many people have fond memories in this street, and it's a really festive place during major events.
Particularly notable evenings included when Beijing won the right to hold the 2008 Olympics, and when China qualified for the Football World Cup. Everyone was so happy and excited, with everyone kissing, shouting, crying and singing until dawn.
Reasonable prices, quality service and 24 hour restaurants, explain the success of this street. Until late at night, restaurants welcome customers from all over the city. "Guijie" is also well located: close to the bus station, half-way to Sanlitun and the lakes of Shichahai, two main spots for clubbing and baring areas. 
Numerous small restaurants are spread along the length of the street. You can find all manner of Chinese food Sichuan, Shandong to Guangdong, Hunan, hot pot... in a word, all the Chinese flavours in one place.
All kinds of people come to eat at restaurants on this street: businessmen, artists, students, you name it and they're there. Despite the fact that no restaurant is considered particularly upscale, each one has their own attractive characteristics. Here is a sample of Guijie restaurants:
The most refined: Huajiayuan
Located in a Siheyuan, this restaurant is celebrated for its paintings and calligraphies hung on the walls. The liveliest: Zixiajinyanghong Huoguodian
Celebrated for its spicy and chilli hot pot, ideal for sharing with friends.The most artisanal: Shouganmian
Its hand-made noodles are the best on the street.
The best one: Hudahaishengyuan
Specialising in seafood. Not to miss: chilli and spicy crayfish.
The most peculiar: Miaolingsuantangyu
Its sour soup, very peculiar, is only for the initiated.
The smallest : Ikunmanshipindian
So small that there aren't any tables! Famous for its spicy duck necks and feet to take away.
