Toponym mapping: a case for distribution of ethnic groups and landscape features in Guangdong, China

ABSTRACT Toponyms serve as symbols of regional culture and thus reflect the history, habitat and environment of a place. This study aims to (1) visualize the distributions of the four ethnic groups and landscape features in Guangdong of China using a toponym mapping method, of which results were presented at 1:6,400,000 scale and (2) to explore the changes by comparing contemporary data, of which results were presented at 1:3,200,000 scale. These maps provide a toponymic aspect to explore the historical evolution of ethnic groups and landscape features.