Abstract: A low-cost and quick mappping technique on near-synchronous, small-scale and macrocosm is developed using digital NOAA/AVHRR data. The satellite photomap of China is made from imagery and symbol base maps according to cartographic techniques strictly. This is the first small-scale, integrated and standard false-color satellite photomap of China, especially if contains the whole South China Sea that is rather difficult to use other remotely sensed data such as Landsat or SPOT. The false color composite of AVHRR thermal infrared, near infrared and visible red channels is used to provide rich information and colourful tones. The data processing includes map projection transformation, image enhancement both on contrast stretch and image sharpening, color balance adjustment, cloud removing, separated processing of land and sea, modification of image seasonal aspect with vegetation index image and mosaic. Geographic elements, map symbols and letterings were selected and desinged carefully considering the finial load of the photomap content and vision effect. This false-color satellite photomap of China has been selected by the 17th ISPRS Congress as a poster achievement.