本文所探討之清代水系圖，全為描述性地圖，亦即符號上均呈寫景式手法，但會以不同之粗細及波浪來區分不同之海河。而色彩上仍保有傳統上山水畫之設色。河流多偏黃與墨綠色，異於近代之青色；山脈則多偏青綠。雖然在空間上已失去實用價值，但對當代風物仍做了詳實之記錄，而不失地圖的功能。
This paper is focused on ten selected Ching Dynasty river maps which are preserved in the Palace Museum. By means of Chinese traditional shan-shui painting techinique, all of these ten maps belong to descriptive map. In symbolism, different sizes of lines and colors were used to distinguish the waves of the sea and river. In color, yellow and dark green were used to represent rivers whereas now cyanic was used. Although the traditional painting lost their value in practice, they made records of the landscape with the skills and techniques that were available in those days. The maps still maintained their function.
