Who's that tall man walking around your neighborhood?

Keen-eyed rat's Beijing and Urbane readers out there may have noticed a mysterious Tall Man ad in last month's issues, an ad that perhaps didn't seem to be advertising anything, merely posing an earnest question: Who is that Tall Man walking around your neighborhood?

The man in question is 1.98m(6’6”) writer/translator Eric Abrahamsen, the primary researcher and contributor to the Immersion Guides team's new project – Beijing By Foot, due out early this summer.

The Immersion Guides imprint not only produces Beijing’s best guidebook (The Insider's Guide to Beijing), but also a whole bookshelf of other great titles and the handy maps that are slipped in between the pages of that's Beijing magazine at regular intervals.

Yes, chances are Eric has been walking around your neighborhood, or will be popping through any day now. Don't be nervous, he's really nice, and spying on you or harassing you is the last thing on his mind. He's far too busy prospecting for Beijing's hidden historical treasures, gnarliest nooks and most captivating crannies.

While the set of 40 detailed, mapped walking cards won't be on sale for a few months, you can browse some of the fascinating discoveries and insights his grazing has yielded thus far on his blog. Featuring photos and reflections on spelunking through the web of bomb-shelter tunnels 30 meters under Nanluogu Xiang, tirelessly tracking down the present day incarnation of the imperial maiden-milking palace and more, this blog is a treat for all practiced wanderers of our dear city.

Links and Sources:
Beijing by Foot
Immersions Guides
Paper Republic
Amazon: Insiders Guide to Beijing
Danwei: China book roundup of 2007