Arc China (ESRI) Index Sheet

The Digital Map Database of China [also referred to as ArcChina] was produced by the PRC National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, and released by ESRI in 1996. Note: ESRI seems to have stopped distributing this dataset.

Database Details:

• Scale: 1:1,000,000
• Projection: Geographic Coordinate System, Lat / Long (based on Krasovsky / Pulkovo 1942 datum)
• Organization: multiple layers split into 77 tiles (each tile in a separate folder and named with grid Tile-ID)
• Description: Contains populated places (points layer) with more than 40,000 items, adminstrative divisions at the county level (polygons), and numerous natural features layers (such as hypsography, hydrography, partial land use, etc).

CHGIS has created a rough index sheet map that shows the general extent of each tile (by scanning the printed index in the ArcChina documentation, and using heads-up digitization in ArcView over the georectified scan). The Index Sheet shapefile is provided below in two versions, one projected as GCS for use with CHGIS Versions 1, 2, & 3; and one projected in Gauss-Kruger (transverse mercator) Xian 1980 for use with CHGIS Version 4. The images below show the Arc China Index Sheet overlayed onto the CHGIS 1820 Prefectures.

ArcChina Index Sheet - for use with CHGIS Versions 1, 2, 3

ArcChina Index Sheet - for use with CHGIS Version 4