Man eats 1.2 kg of insects to win 24K gold bar in Lijiang

A participant competes in eating insects in Lijiang City, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 25, 2017. A man gobbled 1.23 kilograms of insects in five minutes to win the first prize of a 24K gold bar in the competition. (Photo: China News Service/Chen Chao)

A man gobbled 1.23 kilograms of insects in five minutes to win the first prize of a 24K gold bar in a contest in Lijiang City, Southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The champion, surnamed Peng from Chongqing Municipality, said the 1.25 kg of cooked bamboo worms and locusts were "delicious."

A woman from southern Guangzhou said she ate about half a kilogram of fried insects until she couldn't bear it any more. "I was terrified," she said.

Besides bamboo worms and locusts, other insects at the contest included dragonflies and silkworm pupa.

Some other tourists said they joined the contest mainly to challenge themselves. But experts note locusts are actually an excellent source of protein and considered a delicacy in some countries.

The city's Qianguqing scenic spot organized the contest as part of a festival to show off the various costumes of different ethnic groups in China, local media reported.

The activity was mainly designed to promote grand cultural performances held at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a major tourist attraction. Tourists are free to put on the costumes of ethnic groups and take pictures during the festival.

Editor: Eric Wang