This project came about when the Immersion Guides people decided they wanted a book of Beijing walks. Since I was the longest-legged fellow they knew, they asked me to do it.
It seems that most Beijing residents eventually reach a stalemate with the city: you spend a certain amount of time getting to know it, and past that point you simply go about your business. It's a vast and varied place, after all, and you've got to stop somewhere. I'm grateful to the Immersion Guides for giving me an excuse to re-acquaint myself with Beijing; with any luck, this project will help others do so as well.
Since there's more to Beijing than one person can ever expect to dig up, we're hoping that readers might be willing to part with some wisdom regarding their own neighborhoods – you can leave comments on various parts of this site, or send us a note here. We're equally happy to receive offers of information, as well as requests for research.
Expect to see the book available in Beijing and abroad early this summer!