China's Map World now providing maps and POIs within the Great Firewall
Who needs a state-sponsored online mapping service? Why China, of course. We know that particular government doesn't exactly trust the Googles and who knows how far astray its Google Maps service might lead those impressionable citizens. So now there's Map World, created by the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping and deemed to be "authoritative, credible and unified." The service has been out since last year but has only recently lost its beta tag. We've spent a few minutes clicking around and it certainly seems reasonably comprehensive, offering map and satellite views plus 120,000 POIs and even 3D views of some cities, which could make finding your way to den of KIRF all that much easier.
