With an air quality index of 74 and the temperature pushing 50, I left the apartment in search of a wet market. Convinced that I had found the right spot, I made my way through a narrow ally into a large covered area. What I found was anything but wet. I was standing in the middle of one of Shanghai’s most famous cricket markets. Crickets have been beloved by the Chinese for a few thousand years or so. Even today, they are kept as pets for their song, used by framers to signal changes in the seasons and for sporting purposes. Cricket fighting season runs from August to October. Only male crickets flight or sing for that matter. Females on the other hand, are used to produce future fighters so the once they can no longer be bred, they are fed to other pets. What can I say, its tough being a women no matter what species you are.

A prized fighting cricket can go for $100’s of dollars. Men gather with their elite athletes, which by the way, are bred the night before the competition – apparently this makes them more aggressive. Two crickets are put in a shallow dish and tickled with a brush made from rat hair. Bets are taken and the winner of the best of 5 matches is hailed the champion. You will be happy to know, they no longer fight to the death. The loser is allowed to retreat, however based on his fighting ability, he may be fed to a bird later in the day. I’m not sure if I will attend a flight next season, but if you are interested, I am told cricket fighting is also popular in New York and Philly. Check you local listings.

Here is small selection of the crickets available for purchase.