Introduction to the National Atlas

Against the backdrop of rapid economic reconstruction following the founding of the People’s Republic of China, this article argues for the urgent compilation of a comprehensive national atlas. It comparatively reviews the national atlases of the Soviet Union, France, Finland, and Czechoslovakia, examining their institutional organization, expert collaboration, data collection, thematic structure, map scales, projections, cartographic techniques, printing quality, and international dissemination. The survey demonstrates that a modern national atlas should systematically represent historical development, physical geography, population and society, agriculture, industry, transportation, commerce, and regional economic differentiation, while emphasizing resources and industries of particular national importance. The Soviet atlas exemplifies centralized coordination and large-scale scientific cooperation; the French atlas is distinguished by thematic breadth, rigorous review, and refined cartography; the Finnish atlas effectively highlights forests and other nationally significant resources; and the Czechoslovak atlas makes sophisticated use of statistical mapping to reveal socioeconomic structures. Drawing on these examples, the article concludes that a Chinese national atlas should be developed through coordinated participation by specialists across disciplines and relevant state institutions. Its compilation requires unified planning, reliable data, carefully selected thematic maps, appropriate and comparable scales, high-quality printing, effective indexing, and broad distribution. Such an atlas would provide essential support for national economic development, geographical research, regional planning, and public understanding of the country’s natural and socioeconomic conditions.