Big news for those of us living in China...
I noticed just yesterday that my Google Maps (v 3.0.2) running on my Bold began to load maps in Chinese AND English/Pinyin. Formerly, Google was loading only maps in Chinese (Hanyu). (I had heard rumors that Google had bilingual Chinese/English maps loading during the Olympics last year, but stopped using them soon after).
So I was pleased that my new hometown, Shanghai was mapping in both languages. Then I flew from Shanghai to Qingdao and back yesterday and I was pleased to know that English/Pinyin maps were there in Qingdao, too.
Anyone else in China have these new maps loading in both languages at their locations?
Note: the maps aren't perfect, however. The world's second tallest building, the Shanghai World Financial Center, isn't landmarked. Neither is the iconic Shanghai Pearl Tower, but oddly enough, the City History museum located INSIDE the tower is on the map. Some spelling errors: "Super Bramd Mall" instead of "Super Brand Mall". There are also some examples of weird combination of English and Pinyin as well: Century Avenue is the common English name for the big artery in Shanghai's East side (Pudong). "Century Avenue" can be translated into Chinese as "Shiji Dadao", but Google Maps combines these into the unfamiliar "Shiji Avenue". Granted, this is an unusual exception for a street to have a non-Chinese name, but it's very confusing to non-Chinese readers since the actual English signs on the street will not read "Shiji Avenue" but "Century Avenue". But these are minor things.
I'm absolutely overjoyed about the new development.
Google China Maps now in Chinese and English/Pinyin!
