Quote Originally Posted by MeowZeDong View Post
Happy year of the Rabbit all!

I was told I could pick up China road maps in Hong Kong when I'm there in a few days? Does anyone else have experience with picking up a good map before actually setting foot in the country? Do they have suggestions on what was the best map? Or do some use GPS? Interested in hearing the experiences. But can also do a search on the forum. *sorry*

Reading each and every posting (chuckling here and there... :) ...it's a lot...but a lot of good stuff! Hope to meet some of you along our way!

Cheers!
Meow,

Regarding maps, let just say China does not share the same cartographic history as the western world. Maps are definitely available (and are probably improving some) but I found I needed to have 3 or 4 different types of maps in order to get the info I need.

Example, one may a lot of roads but no terrain detail. Another may have terrain detail, but not a lot of roads. Another will have an easier to read layout, or in a scale you want but lack both terrain and updated roads or names in pinyin. etc.etc. Best to plan to spend a couple hours in a book store smelling around.

You can also bring some in... I think the "Outdoor Life" store in Singapore on Thomson Road has "Nelles" Maps of the Tibet/Qinghai region which are not bad.

Regarding GPS, some other guys on here can comment in more details, but a basic international map will also suffice when your out in the mountains since the roads are limited anyway. Around town, is a different story which I'm sure the other MCM hoodlums can comment on.

CC