Abstract: To address the problem that it is difficult to display the surveying and mapping history in museums due to its unconnectedness with museum studies, this paper proposes a new framework of the surveying and mapping history in ancient China. Based on the research on the history of surveying and mapping and museum exhibition principles, the framework is composed of four parts: sprouting, foundation, prosperous development, falling and transformation. Each part is weaved with several questions through which the surveying and mapping history is summarized. The framework keeps a balance between serious history and interesting exhibition. From the exhibition planning of the Zhejiang Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation Science Museum, the proposed framework can not only guarantee a scientific and integrated exhibition, but also help the public know surveying and mapping. This paper excavates the surveying and mapping history in the context of making museum exhibitions and interprets the surveying and mapping history in ancient China from a new perspective.

Key words: the history of surveying and mapping, museum, exhibition outline, content design, six body of mapping