Shanghai isn’t crazy about its crayfish street anymore

City clamps down on illegal seafood vendors as it continues cleaning up its streets.

You can add Shouning Road to the list of places Shanghai is cleaning up (or dumbing down, depending on where you stand), as the city plans to crack down on illegal street vendors by summer in its ongoing efforts to regulate its roadside businesses.

Located near Yuyuan Garden, Shouning Road has been a popular night market since 2003 for eating crayfish, or xiaolongxia (小龙虾), with 57 eateries serving the delicacy.

But city authorities found only nine restaurants had both a business license and food business certificate, which are required by law before a business can sell food. For the others, 39 restaurants had only a business license, while the rest were completely illegal, reported Shanghai Daily.

“These unlicensed businesses will be shut down, while those with licenses will be ordered to regulate their businesses,” said an official from the Huangpu District market supervision authority.

While foodies might lament at the street’s impending doom, nearby residents are welcoming the crackdown.

“Every day, diners make noises and sing till well past midnight, making it difficult for us to sleep,” said a 73-year-old resident surnamed Tang who lives close to the street. “We can’t even complain as the restaurant owners are aggressive.”

If Shouning Road does become regulated, it would join Yongkang Road and Laowai Jie as lively nightlife streets that have been cleaned up or are under the threat of being sanitized.