Shaanxi Atlas, Map Two

A traditional Chinese cartographic map of the northwestern frontier, covering modern Gansu, Ningxia, and eastern Qinghai. The map uses a rectangular coordinate grid. This is a characteristic of Ming dynasty atlases like the "Guang Yu Tu."

Topographical features use stylized illustrations. Mountain ranges appear as clusters of conical peaks. Major rivers, including the Yellow River and the Black River, are drawn with flowing lines. The Great Wall is a dashed line with rectangular fortresses and gates.

Administrative centers like Prefectures, Departments, and Counties are marked with square-walled icons. Smaller outposts and forts are marked with dots or small circles. Key locations include the Silk Road cities of Shazhou, Suzhou, Ganzhou, Liangzhou, and Lanzhou. The map also shows the border passes of Yangguan and Jiayuguan.

Shazhou modern Dunhuang
Shouchang
Yang Pass original: "Yangguan," a famous gateway on the Silk Road
Singing Sand Mountains original: "Mingshashan," famous for its resonant dunes
Guazhou
Suzhou modern Jiuquan
Jiayu Pass original: "Jiayuguan," the western end of the Ming Great Wall
Taolai River
Golden Tower original: "Jinta"
Black River original: "Heihe," also known as the Ejin River
Juyan Lake
Yijinai the Tangut city of Khara-Khoto
Ganzhou modern Zhangye
Shandan
Yongchang
Liangzhou modern Wuwei
Zhuanglang
Ningxia
Lingzhou
Guyuan
Qingyang
Pingliang
Lanzhou
Gaolan
Xining
Hezhou modern Linxia
Guide
Taozhou
Minzhou
Jiezhou modern Longnan
Gongchang
Qinzhou modern Tianshui
Yellow River

Annotation near the bottom center mountain range:
From here one departs into foreign lands.
The foreign name is Yiwuma.
The Bumo-ci-qi Mountains. These are phonetic transcriptions of non-Chinese place names, likely of Mongolian or Tibetan origin.

Shaanxi Provincial Atlas: A regional map of the northwestern province, which at the time included modern Gansu.
Shazhou: An ancient administrative name for the Dunhuang region.
Suzhou, Ganzhou, Liangzhou: Three of the four major commanderies of the Hexi Corridor.
Lanzhou: A major transport hub on the Yellow River.
Xining: A strategic city on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau.
Jiayu Pass: The principal fortress at the western terminus of the Great Wall.
Yang Pass: A historic gate south of the Jade Gate (Yumen Pass) leading to the Western Regions.
Yellow River: The primary waterway of northern China, seen here looping through the Ordos and Hexi regions.
Ningxia, Qingyang, Pingliang, Gongchang: Important military and administrative hubs in the Ming frontier defense system.