1. Buy a suitable city tourist map. The most common type is the urban transportation map, such as those for Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and other cities, which often include relevant travel tips.
A city map typically costs around 3-5 yuan and can be purchased at legitimate bookstores and newsstands.
In addition, you can often get free simplified maps from some hotels.
2. When traveling, after opening the map, mark your accommodation location and remember the intersecting street names so you can communicate your location clearly when taking a taxi. Identify the following important landmarks on the map: the city’s busiest commercial areas, well-known food districts, airports, train stations, and other transportation hubs to get a general sense of the city layout.
3. Travelers often see information about hotels, restaurants, and other commercial establishments on maps—these are usually sponsors of the map and do not necessarily represent the highest quality in the area. It’s better to prioritize recommendations from books, online sources, and tips shared among fellow travelers, and mark them on your map.
4. How to store a map is also an art. Due to the limitations of paper, a typical map may become quite worn after just a three-day independent trip. To prevent this, experienced travelers suggest keeping the map in a tightly sealed compartment of your backpack or between the pages of a magazine or book.
5. Compared to city maps, maps for mountainous scenic spots are even more important—for example, at places like Huangshan or Mount Qingcheng—not only because there are many attractions but also because there are various routes up the mountain. Choosing a path that saves energy while offering the best views is crucial, so it's worth spending five minutes studying the map before climbing. Remember, don’t try to cover too much ground at once, or your legs might give out on the way down. Also, no matter how detailed the map is, it may still miss some details due to various constraints, so it’s wise to ask nearby residents or other hikers for additional information.
6. Although hand-drawn maps may not be as practical as official ones, aside from being artistically appealing, they often come with local travel tips—such as the old-town maps of Lijiang, which include humorous verses about attractions, the origins of local cuisine, and recommended souvenirs. The neutral information on these maps tends to be quite reliable.
7. With the publication of various exquisite travel books and magazines, uniquely styled out-of-print maps also emerge. For instance, when the theme focuses on food, special food-themed travel maps and practical information are often produced, which can be very useful. Additionally, friends who enjoy road trips should keep road guide maps handy, especially those with information on business and budget hotels.
8. How to identify fake or low-quality maps? First, check the map’s publication date. Some counterfeiters simply mark old map data as “latest,” so be cautious with any map labeled as “most recent.” Review the copyright page to verify the publisher. Some pirated maps have poor print quality, with numerous typos, off-colors, and blurry graphics—common issues resulting from scanning and digitally reproducing legitimate maps.