An old-time skilled art form still alive in Beijing is that of artists blowing sugar and forming it into one of 12 zodiac animals for young children to play with and even eat. These Chinese street artists are a dying breed, but their skills are quite spectacular to watch, as they can form a rather accurate recreation of an animal in a couple of minutes using nothing more than their mouth, hands, and some melted sugar.

This edible art skill originated during the Song Dynasty, at the time called sugar opera. Artists boil sugar to a proper temperature, which is then pulled and kneaded into a ball. Next, the artist will begin to blow into the ball after biting a piece of it, while at the same time using his fingers to pull and form the body of the zodiac animal requested. The sugar continues to be blown while the artist further forms the mold. In no time, a zodiac animal is attached to a wooden stick then decorated with eyes and colors with colored dye, to make a piece of beautiful traditional art. One blown sugar zodiac animal costs anywhere from 10-15 RMB each, so notice the bargain for a hand-crafted work of art.