We present an experimental and theoretical study of efficient optical guidi
ng of trapped cold atoms by a blue-detuned hollow laser beam. We have measu
red the atomic guiding efficiency with respect to the propagation direction
of the hollow beam, which is in good agreement with numerical analysis. In
particular, using a copropagating guide laser, we have obtained 20-fold en
hancement of atom guiding with a guiding efficiency of 50%. Simulation show
s that the efficiency can be increased to 80% with an improved hollow beam
mode. The possibility of coherent atom guiding is also discussed.