Objectives  Lunar topographic mapping is one of the fundamental research work for lunar topographic study and lunar exploration program. Since China launched the Chang'E-1 probe in 2007, we have officially joined the group of lunar and planetary mapping research. With the successive success of the following lunar exploration missions, China has successfully obtained a large number of lunar topographic data. Using these data, scholars have carried out preliminary research on lunar topographic mapping, the main purpose of this paper is to review and sort out these research results and understand the research progress of Chang'E lunar topographic mapping in China.

  Methods  Lunar topographic mapping is a subject integrating science, engineering and application. Therefore, in order to understand the progress of China's lunar topographic mapping in the Chang'E project, this paper conducts research and combing from the following three aspects. Firstly, from the aspect of engineering, mainly starting from the standard development of lunar topographic mapping, this paper reviews how domestic scholars carry out the standard development work according to the needs of Chang'E project and related scientific research, starting from the blank, and gradually establish the preliminary research situation of the relevant standard system of lunar topographic mapping, and summarizes the existing standard research results. Secondly, from the aspect of product application, starting from three more commonly used map products, such as lunar atlas product, multimedia map product and lunar globe product, this paper surveys and reviews in detail how domestic scholars design and use reasonable data processing and mapping methods to develop lunar topographic map product according to the quality characteristics of Chang'E lunar data, and summarizes the lunar map products available. Finally, based on the experience gained from Chang'E lunar topographic mapping and its application, this paper reviews and combs the research on the theory and technology of lunar topographic mapping in China, starting from the elements and symbolic expression of lunar topographic mapping, multi-scale topographic mapping, and visualization of lunar topography.

  Results  To meet the needs of Chang'E project and lunar scientific research in China, Chinese scholars have successfully developed 10 national standards related to lunar topographic mapping, and initially established a basic lunar topographic mapping standard system in China. Based on Chang'E lunar data, domestic scholars have compiled five atlas products, developed multimedia lunar map products covering map websites, APP and other forms, developed and produced various lunar globes, and these mapping products have won many awards in the field of mapping at home and abroad. At the same time, domestic scholars have preliminarily studied and established the classification system of lunar topography and geomorphology, and have made some progress in the research of cartography theory and visualization technology of multi-scale cartography for the special lunar topography.

  Conclusions  Lunar and planetary cartography could not be carried out without the need and promotion of the corresponding lunar and deep space exploration programs. Based on the Chang'E project, China has obtained a large number of lunar topographic data. Using these data, China has carried out the research on the theory, technology and application of lunar topographic mapping, and made some progress. The corresponding mapping products have been widely recognized by the international cartographic community, which indicates that in the world, China has entered the forefront of research in the field of lunar topographic mapping. In the future, under the guidance of follow-up lunar exploration program and scientific research, Chinese scholars will continue to carry out further research from the difficult problems in the field of lunar topographic mapping, such as multi-source lunar exploration data fusion, quantitative indicators system construction and automatic extraction of lunar topography features, and automatic multi-scale mapping of massive lunar topographic data.