Anyone who has been on one of BJ Hikers' regular outings will realize that less than 90 minutes outside the city lies open countryside, rolling hills and - perhaps best of all - fresh air.

The glossy 90-page book, illustrated with colour photos and hand-drawn sketch maps of 20 hikes around the city, opens the door to endless exploration.

The book begins by breaking the year down month by month - useful for anyone trying to figure out the best season to tackle any given route and dithering over that ultimate dilemma, what to wear.

Newcomers to Beijing will doubtless be fired up to learn of the hidden treasures lying on their very doorsteps. Even jaded old expats may raise a surprised eyebrow on realizing what they've been missing out on all these years.

The route maps include many Chinese characters which are also liberally scattered throughout the text. This is a godsend to hardy hikers going it alone and seeking help from locals.

Friends Bennett, Mason and Pinnegar have teamed up to produce a user-friendly volume which is helpfully split into sections according to different districts around the capital.

So if captivated by the Huang Hua Cheng area, for example, you'll find no fewer than six routes, all graded to help you know what you're letting yourself in for.

Perhaps the best introduction to Beijing's great outdoors is to go along on one of the hikes - details available by visiting www.bjhikers.com. Hiking around Beijing is available at the Gary Lewis Hair Salon at the Holiday Inn Lido Hotel