Mimi’s review

Historical detective stories told in short bites and photos add up to vivid picture of ancient Beijing in this fascinating book. The author, born in New Orleans and a historian fluent in Chinese, has lived in Beijing on and off over almost 30 years (her husband is currently the Japanese ambassador to China). Naturally friendly, she is passionately curious and loves to explore. Using old maps, she hunts for ancient stones, water sources and trees that surely mark the location of something important. Neglected remnants offer up their vibrant spirits as she talks to old-timers and recovers personal memories of the almost lost history of a place. These stories are irresistible; I bet you can't read just one.