People’s Republic of China Atlas

Detailed CIA atlas of China during the Cultural Revolution.

“This volume goes beyond the scope of a conventional atlas. It presents a wider variety of information, including geographic, economic, historical and cultural data. In the interest of simplicity and clarity, it employs a number of unconventional graphic techniques in addition to standard regional and thematic maps, charts, and photographs. The publication is designed as an introduction and general reference aid for those interested in the People’s Republic of China. To make so much information about such a complex and little-known country as meaningful as possible, a great deal of it is placed in a familiar context – that is, by drawing comparisons between China and the United States.” – Preface.

Starting in 1966 and lasting until Mao Zedong’s death a decade later, China’s Cultural Revolution firmly established the leader’s cult of personality and ushered in a period of radical political violence across the nation. The era saw widespread Chinese support for global revolution, resulting in the ceasing of most diplomatic communications with the developed world.

That didn’t halt international interest, as reflected in this 1971 atlas compiled by the United States Central Intelligence Agency and issued by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. Its 80+ color pages provides a detailed overview of the Communist nation. Of particular interest (apart from the maps) is information on the various ethnolinguistic groups, an attractive bird’s eye view of Peking (Beijing), and a series of comparative charts.