Beijing is a microcosm of Chinese history and culture. Ever since Marco Polo published his wide-eyed report on Khanbaligh, the city of the Mongol kihans, Peking - as Beijing has been known for most of the past 300 years - has captured the western imagination as few other ancient cities have.

Beijing Walks presents six detailed walking tours of the most important historic quarters of the Chinese capital. Included are the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Tiananmen Square, all placed in their imperial contexts and enlivened with traditional maps, drawings and photographs. Beijing Walks offers vital information on everything from feng shui, Pekingese dogs and Peking duck to Peking Opera and the emperors` private lives, evoking the sights, sounds and smells of old Peking, its pleasures and its grandeur.

The book features and extensive introduction, with an historical overview and general travel advice and information; the advantages of off-season travel; maps of each walk; a select list of