The "Small Western Ocean" (Xiao Xiyang) was a term used in late imperial Chinese geography to describe the Atlantic Ocean, particularly the areas surrounding Europe and West Africa.

Map of Various Countries

These numbers represent longitudinal markers used in early modern Chinese cartography, often calculated from a prime meridian passing through Beijing or the Canary Islands.

Alpha

35 Degrees North

Portugal　　　Spain
original: "Putaoya" (葡萄亞) and "Shibanya" (是班牙). These are phonetic transliterations that remain the basis for the modern Chinese names for these nations.

Atlantic Ocean

Strait of Gibraltar
original: "Xiahai Dashenhu" (峽海達神虎). This is a phonetic-descriptive hybrid name for the Strait of Gibraltar; "Shenhu" is likely a phonetic rendering of "Gibraltar" or "Gades."

Minorca Island
Gades
original: "Jia Dao" (加島); referring to the island/port of Cádiz.
Majorca Island
Ceuta
original: "Xishi" (西時); a phonetic rendering of the North African port city.
Border of France
original: "Folansi Pange" (佛蘭西潘隔); indicating the northern limit of the Iberian map reaching toward France.

30 Degrees North

Algiers
original: "A'erjier" (阿爾及爾); phonetic transliteration.
Laghouat
original: "Lajiasi" (拉加斯); likely referring to the oasis city in modern Algeria.
L'Arba
original: "Lalimi" (拉里米); likely phonetic.
Mascara
original: "Mixin" (米新); likely phonetic.
Capital of Fez
original: "Ya'e Duhui" (押額都回); refers to the historic capital of the Kingdom of Fez.
Kingdom of Fez
original: "Ya'e Guo" (押額國); Fez was often listed as a distinct kingdom from Morocco in period maps.

Mebika
original: "Mibei" (米北); likely phonetic.
Sétif
original: "Satuwei" (撒土微); likely phonetic.
Safi
original: "Pan Safen" (盤 薩分); phonetic rendering of the coastal city.
Sebou
original: "Sabu" (撒不); likely referring to the Sebou River region.

Kingdom of Morocco
original: "Malu Guo" (馬鹿國); "Malu" is an early phonetic transliteration of Morocco.

Cape Cantin
original: "Didianqin" (地點秦); likely a phonetic rendering of Cape Cantin (Cap Beddouza).
Safi
original: "Safei" (薩非); a phonetic repetition of the port city.
Agadir
original: "Jiaya" (加押); likely a phonetic rendering of Agadir.
Capital of Morocco
original: "Malu Duhui" (馬鹿都回); the administrative center of the kingdom.
Fez
original: "Feisi" (菲斯); the city itself.
Rhem
original: "Lin" (霖); likely phonetic.
Cape Bojador
original: "Koubu Hada" (口部哈達); phonetic rendering of the infamous cape on the West African coast.
Atlas Mountains
original: "Yaji Shan" (押繼山); phonetic rendering of the Atlas mountain range.

Beta

25 Degrees North

Land of Date Palms
original: "Chanzao zhi di" (產棗之地). This refers to the region historically known as Biledulgerid (from the Arabic 'Bilad al-Jarid'), which translates to "Land of Dates."

Gamma

20 Degrees North

The Great Desert

original: "Kuangye Shamo" (曠野沙漠). This identifies the Sahara Desert, described here as a vast, empty wilderness.

Delta

Land of the Black-faced Races
original: "Heimian zulei di" (黑面族類地). A period-specific term used by Chinese cartographers to designate Sub-Saharan Africa (historically referred to in the West as Negroland or Ethiopia Inferior).