International and domestic circumstances have led to new opportunities and higher requirements for the development of geographic science in China. In this paper, we propose a modified disciplinary structure for geographic science in China in the new era. Geographic science in China can be categorized into four secondary disciplines, i.e., integrated geography, physical geography, human geography, and information geography, according to the current situation and expected trends. The tertiary disciplines under each secondary discipline are nearly fully developed, and a few quaternary disciplines under the tertiary disciplines are widely accepted and used in China. We hope this new disciplinary structure can play a breakthrough role in improving the branches of geographic science, promoting the development of emerging disciplines under the framework of geographic science, and supporting national and international development strategies in the new era.

Physical geography, one of the branches of geography, is the basic discipline of geographic science. And it is the scientific foundation of ecology, environmental science and other related disciplines. Physical geography focuses on spatial characteristics, evolution and regional differentiation of the earth’s surface. In the new period of rapid development of social economy, and science and technology, physical geography is more closely and widely connected with human geography and, information geography. This paper analyzed the forming process of the physical geography, expressed sub-discipline structure of integrated physical geography, sectoral physical geography, human living-environment geography, and proposed the development strategy of physical geography and its sub-branch disciplines, key priority of development goals and directions in China.

Human geography is a discipline that studies the formation and evolution of the geographical distribution pattern of human activities. The main research objects of human geography focus on human activities and human-environment relationship. The scientific questions to be answered by human geography cover both natural science and social science, and thus it has distinctive interdisciplinary features. In China, human activities’ economic and social processes play an essential role in explaining the law in human geography discipline as human society development is approaching or has entered the post-industrialization stage. The logic and methods of social science have become important tools through which human geography’s changes in processes and patterns of human geography can be reasonably discussed and adequately understood. The research methodology of human geography shows integration characteristics between natural sciences and social sciences. The outcomes of human geography research reveal scientific laws in geographical distribution patterns and the evolution of human activities. It becomes one of the primary disciplines for both the national and local governments to manage and optimize spatial development and protection patterns. It has wide applications in spatial planning, regional strategy and policy-making, and the modernization of spatial governance. The unique feature in integrating academic research and policy-making applications provides human geography discipline in China a superiority of leading the world in the discipline. Besides integrated human geography, human geography in China has five subdisciplines: economic geography, urban geography, rural geography, socio-cultural geography and political geography. Each subdiscipline has priority and critical research fields and coordinates with the rest of the subdisciplines.

The advent of the information era has resulted in exceptional advances in geographic science. The domain of geographic science has expanded from traditional physical and human geography to physical, human, and information geography, resulting in the emergence of the field of information geography. Three subdisciplines have gradually formed, i.e., geographic remote sensing science, geographic information science, and geographic data science. With a view towards preparing a description of the disciplinary structure of geographic science for the “Development Strategy of Discipline and Frontier Research in China (2021-2035)”, this article summarizes the history, definition, and disciplinary structure of information geography. The strategic layout of the discipline, along with the goals and key directions of priority development fields, are also highlighted. The insights into this new discipline provided in this paper will promote the development and application of remote sensing and geographic information within the framework of geographic science, advancing the synthesis of geographic research and the integrated development of geographic science.