Since the publication of the Physical Atlas of the People's Republic of China in 1967, much integrated study and survey have been carried out by scientists in the fields of Geology, Geophysics, Hydrology, Biology, Oceanography, and Environmental Science. As such a vast amount of first hand information has been acquired, there is a need to produce an entirely new National Physical Atlas.

This atlas provides comprehensive basic information and scientific data for China's economic construction, social development, exploitation of natural resources, land management, environmental protection, prevention of natural disasters, and scientific research.

This atlas consists of 5 sections as follows:

(1) Prefactory Maps
These maps show the basic framework of China's physical features and include Landsat satellite images, and maps of the relief, physical landscape, population, and comprehensive natural regions. These maps also reflect the foundation of China's landform mapping, the scope of physical study and thematic survey, and distribution of field stations.

(2) Physical Environment
This section includes maps of geology & geophysics, geomorphology, climate, hydrology, soils, biosphere, and oceanography.

(3) Natural Resources
This section shows the distribution of mineral resources, the distribution and relative reserves of coal fields, oil and gas fields, and the distribution of submarine mineral resources. It includes three sub-sections, namely, (a) maps of water, air and land resources, (b) maps of biological resources; and (c) maps of tourist resources.

(4) Natural Disasters
This section shows earthquakes, landslides, mud flows, drought, meteorological hazards, land degradation, dissertification, soil erosion, harmful animals and local diseases.

(5) Natural Utilization and Protection
This section shows the distribution of natural reserves, the major utilization reformation and typical engineering projects.

This atlas made the best use of both remote sensing technology and computer mapping techniques. For example, in the compilation of thematic maps, satellite imagery was used to revise and complete boundary delineation. Satellite imagery also provided basic information for detection of changes of rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastlines. As all data processing and production work for the atlas were done by computer, the high quality of this reference work is ensured.

This stupendous atlas is an essential reference work on the geography of China and constitutes an important addition to any map library.