Alternate Title
Category
Maps and GIS
Institution
Harvard University
Access
open access
URL
https://chgis.fas.harvard.edu/
Description
The China Historical Geographic Information System (CHGIS) is a comprehensive GIS database covering Chinese history from 221 BCE to 1911 CE (Qin through Qing dynasties), providing authoritative spatial and temporal data on populated places and historical administrative units across two millennia. CHGIS includes time-series data for changing administrative boundaries, place names, and population centers, with GIS-ready data available in multiple formats (shapefiles, KML, databases) with comprehensive metadata and documentation. The database underpins numerous other major digital humanities projects including the China Biographical Database (CBDB), World Historical Gazetteer, and Pelagios Commons, and offers a download interface and Placenames search API.
Source List
ACLS Open Database Resource Guide
Tags
Early China (before 220 CE) Digital humanities Local history Late Imperial (1368–1912) Middle Period (220–1368)
Last Modified
5/13/2026 10:18pm