has been around for more than 3,000 years,

and its food is as rich as its history.

Located in northeastern China,

the region is arid, so the food is rich in wheat-based carbs

and is heavy on the meat.

Here, street food used to actually be sold on the street,

but in recent years, the government has been cracking down

on curbside vendors, citing food safety and cleanliness issues.

Now, most street food can be found in tidy food courts

like these that mostly cater to tourists.

But you can still find good eats here.

We went to Beijing's Nanluoguxiang

and picked out the five best dishes.

Beijing's roast duck is iconic, but it can be quite pricey,

especially if you go to a sit-down restaurant.

This street vendor serves it in a wheat wrap

that's affordable and can be eaten on the go.

Noodles are king in Beijing,

where wheat, not rice, is the carb of choice.

And these cold noodles are a classic summer dish.

This savory crepe comes from the city of Tianjin,

about an hour's drive outside of Beijing.

Barbecued squid is a favorite in this food court,

and it's doused with a spicy chili sauce.

In the age of Instagram, trendy means photogenic,

and these red bean cakes definitely fit the bill.

You can find these five foods here at this location.

And as always, feel free to taste around.

Coming up next time,

we break down the street food of a water town

in Guangdong Province.