Baozi 包子

Otherwise known as steamed buns, the Chinese usually eat these for breakfast, so you'll have to get in line with the locals at 8am to enjoy the best ones. About the size of a fist, the extremely light and fluffy¹ dough² keeps the filling piping hot until you take a bite. Fillings can range from pork to prawn³ and green vegetables.

像众所周知的馒头一样, 中国人常常把这些当早餐, 所以你需要在早上八点和当地人一起排队去享受最地道的包子. 它们差不多像拳头一样大, 在你咬它之前, 极其松软的面团里面裹着滚烫的馅, 而包子的馅料是从猪肉到虾, 再加蔬菜配成的.

One of Beijing's most popular baozi stands sits on Xinzhongjie, about 100m south of the busy Dongzhimenwai Street. Each bun costs 3 yuan (28 pence).

北京最受欢迎的包子店之一在新中街上, 人来人往的东直门外大街往南100米, 每个包子三元钱(28便士)。

Chuan'r 串儿

Usually available from the early evening onwards, Yang rou chuan'r – lamb kebabs from China's Western Xinjiang Province – are one of Beijing's most coveted⁴ street foods. The best chuan'r are those that intersperse⁵ fresh, seasoned lamb with chunks⁶ of succulent fat. There are literally⁷ hundreds of roadside barbeques selling these in Beijing, easily identifiable by the Chinese character for kebab – 串 – fashioned out of red neon, and an irresistible⁸ smell of spices.

一般在傍晚的时候就可以见到中国新疆特产—-羊肉串, 它是北京最令人垂涎的小吃之一. 最美味的串儿是那些带着肥肉块的, 佐料多的新鲜嫩羊肉. 在北京有成千上百个路边烧烤在卖这个, 它们很容易辨认出来, 红色霓虹灯绕成的"串"字, 还有无法抗拒的香料味.

Head to where trendy hutong Nanluoguxiang meets Gulou Dong Dajie to sample some for just 5 pence a piece.

在南锣鼓巷和鼓楼东大街的交汇处可以品尝到, 5便士一串。

Jian Bing 煎饼

The jian bing is a savoury pancake originally from China's east coast that's perfect for a filling, on-the-go bite. Street stands usually consist of a hot plate on the back of a bike and appear around breakfast and lunchtime. The pancake mixture is spread on to the hot plate with a single flourish, and egg is spread on top. A smear⁹ of dark, sweet wheat sauce is followed by a sprinkling of fresh chilli and green onions. Finally, the key ingredient: a sheet of crunchy fried dough that's bashed into the folds of the pancake before it's handed over to you in a totally impractical¹⁰ thin plastic bag.

煎饼是一种很方便携带的咸馅饼, 它的原产地是中国的东海岸, 街边经常立着一个车子, 后面放着一个大热盘子, 它们通常能在早午餐的时候看的到. 调好的面粉糊被平摊在这个大热盘上, 上面还加了一层鸡蛋, 然后抹一层深色的甜面酱, 撒一些新鲜的小葱和辣椒. 最后关键的地方是, 一张焦脆的炸油饼被放在煎饼里面, 然后对折起来装在一个完全不靠谱的薄塑料袋里递给你.

Try the stand that appears in the mornings before 9.30am on the corner of Baofang Hutong and Dongsi Nan Dajie.

早晨9:30之前可以在报房胡同和东四南大街的拐角处看的到。

Donghuamen night market 东华门夜市

Touristy it may be, but if you go with a open mind and an empty stomach, you'll be richly rewarded at this evening market. Street snacks from all over China feature, from the tasty shredded¹¹ lamb and coriander "burgers" from Shanxi Province, to the dreaded¹² scorpions¹³ on sticks from Shandong.

可能这里更像观光景点一样, 但是如果你用开放的心态和带着一个空空的胃去, 在这个夜市上你将会有非常大的收获, 这里有所有中国的小吃, 从陕西的碎羊肉和香菜做成的 "汉堡包" 到山东可怕的蝎子串都可以看到.

North-west of Wangfujing Street. The native stall owners set up at 4pm daily and start packing up at 10pm.

在王府井大街的西北角, 摊主下午四点开始摆摊, 晚上十点收摊。