Nine Realms

The Nine Realms is an illustrative map designed for tourists visiting China for the first time.
Its purpose is to help newcomers quickly understand key cities and landmarks across the country. The black and white gradient is inspired by traditional Chinese ink painting, evoking a sense of cultural depth and aesthetic familiarity.

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The project combines hand-drawn architectural illustrations with minimal geometric shapes to form the visual language of the map. While iconic Chinese landmarks are rendered in a delicate ink-painting style, the surrounding terrain and layout are simplified through clean, modern graphic design. This approach merges the visual heritage of traditional Chinese art with the clarity and functionality of contemporary design, creating a cultural map that is both informative and expressive.