Abstract: Map symbols play an important role in the map design and output. For symbol database in ArcMap, which is a mapping module of ArcGIS developed by US ESRI Co,.Ltd, can’t meet the requirement for output of basic scale map in China, it is necessary to design new symbol database accorded with requirement. According to the analysis on pratical and normative symbol database for geological map based on ArcGIS, this paper introduces a method to solve the questions in the process of geological cartography using ArcGIS.