Abstract: Geological mapping is expected to be the main task in China's future geological survey. The problem as to how to plan and implement geological mapping smoothly and how to promote the integration of mapping and scientific research on the basis of basic geological mapping should be solved as soon as possible. This paper proposes and discuses geological mapping for special issues or thematic geological mapping, This kind of mapping is focused on such aspects as solving important geological issues, investigating natural resources and geological environments, studying a specific target geological body, and meeting higher social need, with the integration of geological survey and scientific research. Its scale and scope will depend on the key geological problems and geological target bodies. The new style mapping is an important supplement to the traditional geological mapping based on standard international map sheets. The concept, necessity and methods of thematic geological mapping are discussed in this paper.