In the center of Xi’an city stands the Bell Tower. Built during the Ming Dynasty, the structure still stands today in the middle of a traffic circle. To enter, you must go through an underground passage. It serves as a popular tourist destination – the top level provides an incredible panoramic view of the city. Not too far from the Bell Tower is a street that the locals call Hui Min Jie. The Hui Min are the local Chinese Muslim population and Jie means “street.”
Hui Min Jie houses the Great Mosque, another popular tourist destination which locals visit daily for their prayers. Although the Mosque was an interesting stop, what truly interested me was what lined the streets on the way to the Mosque. On both sides are small shops and stalls, with vendors selling everything from mini Terracotta warriors and knick-knacks to fried cuttlefish and Chinese hamburgers. There are also sit-down restaurants and, as you walk by, the staff invite you in for a meal.
Needless to say, I made it my mission to try a bit of each food. My first night there, I was so excited and taken in by the atmosphere that I went from stall to stall trying bits and pieces from each vendor! It was quite an adventure, weaving through a sea of tourists as well as locals in order to get from one place to the next. But as a New Yorker, I’ve mastered this art of weaving through a crowded street to get to where I’m going.
I started with a lamb kabob that was skewered with a giant tree branch about 18 inches long. I followed with steamed rice cakes, fried cuttlefish, fried potatoes, fruit leather, sesame candy, stuffed chicken wings, and spicy tofu skin – just to name a few. Is your mouth watering yet? I know mine is.
