Cartographical sources for urban morphological research in China

Abstract

The use of cartographical sources is fundamental to understanding urban landscapes. Despite the increasing amount of research on the changing physical form of Chinese cities, knowledge of the sources and access to them remain poor. True ground plans showing streets, plots and building blockplans are rare. This paper highlights the importance in urban morphology of the use of those limited cartographical sources that are available in China, including their use in conjunction with field surveys and other sources of information.