Check out a 'chicken without sexual life' while dining in China!

Sydney, June 18 : As the world readies for an influx of visitors for the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese capital has offered eateries an official English translation of local dishes whose exotic names and alarming translations can leave foreign visitors shocked, frustrated and famished.

If the authorized bodies have their way, the English-speaking tourists, would be able to order "beef and ox tripe in chili sauce" - an appetiser - rather than "husband and wife's lung slice".

Other favourites have also received a linguistic makeover.

"Bean curd made by a pock-marked woman", as the Beijing Youth Daily rendered the spicy Sichuanese dish, is now "Mapo tofu," and "chicken without sexual life" becomes mere "steamed pullet".

As the Beijing event is approaching fast a notice on the city tourism bureau website told restaurants to come and pick up a book with the suggested translations.

In China agreeing on the English-language menu has taken many rounds of discussions over previous drafts since last year.

Controversy has already broken out over the blander new translations.

"I don't like this new naming method, it's abandoning Chinese tradition," theaustralian quoted one internet comment, as stating.

"There are many stories in the names of these dishes," the comment added.

ANI