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Q: What was your reaction when you saw first time World Map from Chinese sources? What is your opinion
When I saw world map first time in China, i was shocked..first i thought it is misprint..but after few days came to know that in China they use different world map in which China has been located in the Center on the world Geography
My reaction? "Looks like a map to me, except in Chinese!"
Maybe you want to elaborate a bit on your question.
If you are referring to the fact that China is centered and looks bigger than maps from <insert country here> then that is quite normal. The same would apply to a European looking at a map from the US. People from Andorra probably think they are living in a giant country :)
It is funny that they put China in the center of the map and USA and Canada to the east of China and still say that China is 12hrs or more ahead of USA and Canada. I think it would make alot more sense if they introduced a new world order in wich they use BMT（Beijing Mean Time）instead of GMT and China is in the western hemisphere whereas USA and Canada are in the eastern hemisphere.
Traveler:
And then put the whole world on one time zone - China time
I'm surprised some of our Australian commenters haven't shouted 'northern hemishpere bias'.
If you want to see an 'unusual' looking world map, have a look at a map with South to the top of the page.
MissA:
I'm Australian and I can honestly say that I have never, ever, once, ever heard anybody here give even the slightest indication that they give a sh!t which way the world is put on the map - north or south pole aligned
Hugh.G.Rection:
MissA, my comment was a little bit tongue in cheek and no way meant to be offensive. I have a few Australian friends (from my previous career) and that was an ongoing 'joke' between us. My apologies if I offended you, it certainly was not my intention.
MissA:
Not offended, I was just thinking you must hang out with some weird Aussies if they're the type to get overexcited about maps!
Are you talking about the islands issues? Or the Tee Bett issue? Or the Tie Won issue?
Traveler:
The world map the rest of the world uses is different than the world map China uses.
981977405:
And so what, Traveler, does that change the sun from coming up in the morning? Every major country indulges itself with things like this.
I am talking about the position of China on the world map.It is in the middle
Do you have the map screenshot,or give us a web links.I want see that what you mentioned.
Of course China is in the centre, it the map is printed in Chinese it will be aimed at Chinese people, why put China off to one side. In the UK world maps have the UK in the centre, I assume N. America have N. America in the centre and so on an so forth.
Traveler:
Can you show me a link to a map with North America in the middle?
Hugh.G.Rection:
Traveler: Sure, it was the first one on a google search.
http://suzannefarrellsmith.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/mercator.gif
Traveler:
Fair enough. Though it looks more like a specifically designed map showing shipping routes for an American company, rather than an attempt at an alternate world map by a North or South American country's government.
Is this the map used in schools, government offices, media and the majority of businesses in any North or South American country?
Hugh.G.Rection:
I don't know, I've never lived in the USA for any longer than a short holiday, that' was just a quick google search on "world map USA perspective" . As I said, in the UK the UK is in the centre, in Germany Europe is in the centre, although it's only a few degrees different. So when I came to China and saw China in the centre I thought it entirely logical. I therefore assumed it was the same everywhere, excepting the northern hemisphere bias I was already aware of. Now, if you as an American tell me that is not the case I will of course accept that
A lot of "foreigners" here seem to be confused that there is a standard world map separate from China's non-standard version.
MissA:
Hmmmm, for sh!ts and giggles I just googled 'world map' and what came up was actually remarkably standard in its layout - Europe and Africa in the dead centre, with Asia dominating the right hand side of the map and the Americas the left hand side.
This would reflect GMT and the 12 hours either side of it.
Traveler:
Exactly. But China decided that it would be better to have the Americas and the Western Hemisphere on the East side of the map, and the Prime Meridian and the Eastern hemisphere on the West side of the map. With China as the centre of the world, of course.
throughout my educational life i folowed Oxford and Pearson Atlas book..and after that i found China's Map totally different..it is the reason i asked this question, but as Hugh...said it is same in UK..they put their country in middle..as well N america..then i think it is my mistake..
xinyuren:
I have never seen a World Map with North America in the middle. It is always in the West. Europe is in the middle as it should be with China and Asia in the East. That is the common configuration and I have seen no deviation from it. I haven't seen a Chinese World Map, though.
A link to a blog that has both versions of the world map:
xiaoyanwangblog.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/blog-9-east-vs-west-south-vs-north.html
Interestingly, China "discovered" a similar map to the Chinese version in 2006, which China claims was drawn in 1418, predating Columbus arrival in America by 70 years. It shows all countries and continents of the world, except United Kingdom. China refuses to allow the map to be authenticated by scientific process.
EDIT: Interestingly, it appears that the map actually predates the travels of the Chinese admiral (Zheng He) who supposedly drew it. The Chinese claim he drew the map in 1418, yet he did not set sail until 1421, and even then he only went to SE Asia, India and Africa. Yet the Americas are included on the map.
nevermind:
I like how the dope there goes on about hte collectivism nonsense like a good brainwashed child of china who has no healthcare, welfare or workers rights.
it is amazing what land china tries to claim with no navy to support it. if they actually had a decent navy before 1949, there would be no taipei, lets not let facts get in the way of history though, lets give america back to the indians and europe back to the romans. its only fair.
I remember most North American maps showin NA as the middle growing up and I'm sure Europe's maps show europe.
Nessquick:
yes, our CZech rep is also almost always in the middle of the map ...
maybe a problem for the Americans is that they see a US map and think it is a world map 
(hint: World Series in misc American sports only is for American teams)
I couldn't stop asking people what this 9 dashed line nonsense was. I added my own 40 dashed line showing that America owns all of the pacific ocean. The Chinese people got kind of angry about that.
Maps of the world, in each country, tend to center on that particular country.
It makes a LOT of sense... because you learn where other countries are in relation to where you are - and where you are is one of the things in life you tend to know more about.
So, no, not surprised at all!
Besides, it is the 'Middle Kingdom' - it should be in the middle ... (and it's still basically a feudal system 
)
What we should really be focussing on is this ridiculous concept that north is better than south... Maps should now be focussed, not on who was where first (and the major powers back then), but now on where is the best country in the world... hence, we need to start reversing the North/South perspective! Don't you agree, MissA?? ;-D
MissA:
Makes perfect sense if you think about it, actually - I'm sure traveler and phil will agree also.
Traveler:
I like Australia where it is. When I come home to my girl, I like to go down under.
Are we talking about version 2012 or version 1500's. China has its inalienable rights to secure and self preservation not just in the Diaoyu isle but South China Seas.
If it were me, I would go even after beyond the Ussuri beyond the outer Heilongjiang whom the Japanese carved from China after they beat the Russians in 1905. Then a few day before world War 2, Russia took from the Japanese in in the waning years of 1945 with the consent of big 5 that included Chiang Kai Shek China, U.K., USA, and France. Japan never paid any single cent to compensate the huge devastation they did to China with tacit acceptance of Chiang Kai Shek China at The San Francisco Accord but they did not know that Mao Tze Tunbg will win in the Chinese people's revolution...Emphasize PEOPLE. Would you feel incense that almost 30 million Chiense died in the 2nd World War fighting the Japanese along with USA, U.K. but then after the war the main beneficiary of thi war are the 2 agggressors? Nazi Germnay and Imperial Japan?
nevermind:
You have NO rights to the South China sea. By your backwards logic Greece could claim ownership of half the world. It is 2013. Back in the days these disputed lands changed hands all the time. You can't now go pointing to 1000-year-old maps and sayign they're yours. They are not, plus China didn't exist as a nation back then.
My only real problem with WW2 is how the west saved China, then Mao Zedong spent all his time demonizing the west. talk about ingrateful. How about Mongolia comes to invade China because they did 900 years ago? Do you agree Mongolia can claim China? Cause by your logic they can.
Traveler:
There was no Big 5 in WWII. It was the Big 4, and China was not one of them. China was a nation that had been totally conquered, until it was liberated by America and the Big 4.
China did not attend the San Francisco Conference, as it was still a country unable to reconcile itself after the ravishes of WWII, and the slaughter of tens of millions of Chinese people by Mao and the Communists during and after the Communist Revolution. Instead, China left it to the rest of the world to work out it's problems.
China signed an agreement with Japan in 1895, agreeing that the Senkaku Islands belonged to Japan, after losing a war China caused through its' belligerence. Twice, China tried to bully Japan, and twice China got it's butt kicked. Now China refuses to honour it's agreement, trying to bully Japan a third time.
The Sino-Soviet Border Conflict of 1969 has been resolved in 2008,after China tried to bully the USSR, again getting it's butt kicked. But again, China seems to no longer want to honour the agreements it made.
If China is so sure it has legal claim to these territories, why does it refuse to go before the United Nations for a ruling. Like at the San Francisco Conference, it does nothing, as it does not know how to operate effectively in world politics. Additionally, most international experts on these issues believe China would lose it's claims before the UN. Even most Chinese experts and military do not believe China has a case.
I also think the Mongolian argument has some merits. After all, it was during Mongol rule that China had it's greatest land expansion. For the rest of it's history, it has been a country consistently torn by internal dispute and civil war, and unable to operate as a true and legitimate world power.
MissA:
Traveler, I like the Mongolian argument, it shows off the ridiculous nature of "it was ours 200 years ago, so we're going to start a war over it" (an argument used by a number of nations).
Nevermind and Traveler...read your history book...
Traveler:
Exactly which part are you questioning, and can you give us a reliable link to correct any error in what we have written? Preferably from the real history, not the Chinese rewrite.
MissA:
Oh, dear, Rose Garden. Coming on here and mindlessly repeating nationalistic phrases then being unable to back your assertions will not get you anywhere on this website, I'm afraid. You'll need to do better than that.
beaufortninja:
nice comeback. not. What's the matter? Never had to debate some flimsy argument the propaganda department has drilled into your head since birth?
