China launched its first administrative map on Friday,
helping its people to orient themselves.
The newly published China's National Administrative Map, dubbed
the "place search engine," was jointly published by the Ministry of
Civil Affairs (MCA), the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping and
China Map Publishing House.
The 29.7-by-42 cm atlas carves up China's 34 provincial, 333
prefectures and about 40,000 townships' boundaries, helps the
government and citizens to position a place within the country's
9.6 million square km's territory, with detailed and accountable
information.
"The atlas claims to be China's first administrative map, which
plays critical roles in the country's reform, economic growth and
government management," said Dai Junliang, director of the
Administrative Division Department with MCA.
"Though some local governments have published their own regional
administrative maps before, quite a number of regional borderlines
are vague and the place names are not in compliance with government
standards," said Dai.
(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2006)
