China. Contains 15 subject provinces including the 2 islands of Hainan & Formosa and the tributary kingdoms of Corea & Tonkin, drawn in 1810 by Frances Bowen, distills a moment when European curiosity and pedagogy converged on the Qing world. Its ornate title cartouche announces a work both decorative and didactic, while the provinces are crisply enumerated and bounded to lead the eye across a carefully ordered empire. Hainan and Formosa appear with particular attention, their shorelines and interior reliefs set off from the mainland, and the neighboring states of Corea and Tonkin are clearly labeled to signal political hierarchy. Executed with the lucid touch of pen-and-ink and watercolor, the composition balances graceful color with legible geography, capturing the contours of an East Asian sphere as understood in the early nineteenth century.

Bowen’s mapmaking was celebrated for turning geography into instruction without sacrificing elegance. Working in the era when manuscript atlases guided classrooms and salons alike, Bowen deployed a rigorous, almost taxonomic clarity—dividing space into provinces, marking tributary relations, and using measured wash to cue relief and regional distinction. This was not an armchair fantasy but an attempt to synthesize the best available knowledge into a tool for learning, reflecting contemporary European engagement with Qing administration and East Asian diplomacy. The result projects authority and restraint: a composition whose neat lines and lucid inscriptions invite methodical study, situating China within a broader constellation of lands with which it negotiated status and exchange.

Geography organizes the narrative. Major rivers—most notably the great corridor of the Yangtze, the sinuous Yellow River, and the Pearl River system bending toward the southern sea—are traced like arteries that bind ports to hinterlands. Mountain ranges, expressed through disciplined shading, articulate natural frontiers and north–south divides, while the coastline is crenellated with capes, bays, and estuarine fans. Between mainland and islands, the straits are implicitly mapped as routes: the Formosa (Taiwan) Strait separating the island from Fujian’s coast, and the Qiongzhou Strait isolating Hainan from Guangdong. Such features are not mere ornament; they structure movement, trade, and imperial administration, and Bowen’s choices foreground the physical logic that underwrote Qing power.

Urban geography anchors the political picture. Beijing appears as the imperial pole, balanced by Nanjing along the Yangtze and by Guangzhou (Canton) on the southern littoral, with Hangzhou signaling the wealth of the lower river plains. On the Corean peninsula, the capital’s position is evident by inference at the site of Seoul, mirroring the tributary kingdom’s proximity to China’s northeast. In Tonkin, the delta suggests the seat of Hanoi gridding the Red River plain. Hainan’s northern harbor—readily associated with Haikou—and Formosa’s northern settlement, aligned with the later site of Taipei, mark maritime nodes oriented to the continent. Together these placements stage a network of courts, ports, and riverine markets through which goods and diplomatic messages coursed.

Historically, the map crystallizes an early nineteenth-century understanding of the Qing order. The provinces—here counted as fifteen “subject provinces”—are drawn with decisive borders that frame the empire’s civil governance, while Corea and Tonkin are labeled as tributaries, signaling the ritual hierarchy that structured foreign relations. The neat boundary work at China’s margins gestures to contested, often porous frontiers to the north and west, where geography and policy intertwined. As an educational manuscript, Bowen’s composition articulates not only where things stood, but how they related: an empire defined by provinces and watersheds, islands and straits, capitals and corridors. It is a rare union of scholarly clarity and aesthetic poise, a snapshot of geopolitics at the height of Qing influence.

Cities and towns on this map

• China
• Beijing
• Nanjing
• Guangzhou (Canton)
• Hangzhou
• Corea (Korea)
• Seoul (not directly named, but inferred location)
• Tonkin (Vietnam)
• Hanoi (not directly named, but inferred location)
• Hainan
• Haikou (not directly named, but inferred location)
• Formosa (Taiwan)
• Taipei (not directly named, but inferred location)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Political Divisions: Clear boundaries demarcating 15 provinces.
• Geographic Details: Representation of major rivers and mountain ranges.
• Island Representations: Detailed illustrations of Hainan and Formosa.
• Tributary States: Labels indicating Corea and Tonkin.
• Borders: Defined political borders between provinces and neighboring countries.
• Cartouche: An ornate title cartouche marking the map’s name.

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: China. Contains 15 subject provinces including the 2 islands of Hainan & Formosa and the tributary kingdoms of Corea & Tonkin.
• Date of creation: 1810
• Mapmaker: Frances Bowen
• Extra notes: Created in 1810 by Frances Bowen, this manuscript map reflects the style of early 19th-century educational cartography. It is drawn in pen-and-ink and watercolor, emphasizing clarity and geographic detail of China and its neighboring areas.
• Interesting context about the mapmaker: Frances Bowen was known for his educational approach to cartography during a time when manuscript maps were appreciated for both craftsmanship and geographic education.
• Topics and themes shown on the map: The map illustrates geographic and political divisions within the Qing Empire and provides insight into its tributary states, indicating a didactic purpose.
• Countries, regions, provinces, and counties shown: Major regions include China, Corea (Korea), Tonkin (northern Vietnam), Hainan, and Formosa (Taiwan).
• Design and style: The map is characterized by its pen-and-ink and watercolor execution, showcasing a balance between artistic craft and educational clarity.
• Historical significance: The map serves as a document illustrating territorial understanding during the Qing Dynasty, reflecting geopolitical relations with tributary states in the early 19th century.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 5-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.