The trajectory of urban development—A review of the Shanghai atlas

Luo Ding reviews the content, design, and production of the Atlas of Shanghai. Compiled by the Shanghai Municipal Atlas Compilation Committee, it contains sections on general reference, population and natural resources, urban construction, the economy, social services, environmental conditions, districts and counties, and a place-name index. Luo argues that island-style district maps, color-coded page locations, and street-number annotations improve navigation and practical use, while recent base-map and statistical data enhance currency. He praises the thematic symbols, photographs, orderly district layouts, coordinated colors, and shaded edging. The short production period and high graphic quality are attributed to municipal and institutional support, ready access to source materials, computer-assisted cartography, and internally developed mapping software. Luo concludes by encouraging other major cities to support urban atlas compilation.