A Beijing guidebook with more than one hundred photos and maps and text written by a former UNESCO official has been published in both Chinese and English versions.

The guidebook, published by China Development Press, contains 20 city maps, 120 photos and 30,000 words.

The writer, Wu Jisong, served in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and was an attache of the International Tourism Association. he has visited 80 countries and regions.

Wu said that unlike cities like Paris, London and New York, Beijing did not have a city guidebook in picture format for foreign tourists so he decided to write one. He and a professional photographer spent a year on the project.

"With this book in their hands, foreigners can tour Beijing on their own," he said.

The publisher said Korean, Japanese and French versions of the book will also be published soon.

(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2007)