Review of the National Natural Atlas of China

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the National Physical Atlas of China, published in 1999 in both Chinese and English editions. As a key component of China's series of national atlases, the atlas was compiled under the leadership of the Institute of Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, involving nearly 40 institutions and over 300 scholars. Based on the concept of systematically studying the country's environment and its changes, protecting geographical systems and biodiversity, and ensuring sustainable development, the atlas extensively utilizes satellite remote sensing information. It comprises 225 pages containing 540 maps, organized into five sections: introductory maps, physical environment, natural resources, natural hazards, and nature utilization and protection. The review highlights the atlas's outstanding achievement in combining traditional cartography with computer-based mapping methods. The thematic map groups are rich in content and innovative, demonstrating high precision and practical utility. The atlas is regarded as a unique cartographic masterpiece and a model of excellence in atlas publishing over the past decade, holding significant value for economic development and scientific research.