Classic milestones: national atlases

The national atlas is regarded as a significant indicator of a country's scientific, technological, and cultural level. This article reviews the decades-long compilation journey of the Chinese National Atlas, beginning in the 1950s. It details the organizational structure, compilation process, publication of individual volumes, and scientific significance of this key national research project. The article notes that the atlas brought together the expertise of over 1,700 scholars from 216 institutions nationwide. Its completion not only provided a crucial scientific basis for economic development, research, and education but also advanced the field of Chinese cartography and nurtured talent. Highly praised by the international academic community, it stands as a milestone in the development of modern Chinese cartography.