TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A British artist has created an intricate hand-illustrated map of the Taipei Basin, complete with mass transit routes, rivers, buildings, and topography. 

The illustrator, Tom Rook, told Taiwan News that he started the map in January and completed it in March. When asked about the inspiration for his work, he said he had drawn Taiwan's cities for a while and wanted something that encompassed the whole Taipei Basin, where he has been living for 13 years. 

The artist behind Tom Rook Art (Instagram @tomrookart) added that he has a “somewhat nerdy interest in transit maps and diagrams,” so he decided to combine the city and the transit maps. He felt it would be interesting to see how it all fits in with the topography. 

He said he has always thought Taipei has a great mass transit system. For reference, he used a mix of Google Maps and his photos. 

Rook noted that Google Maps images in many areas such as Nangang are outdated and have changed substantially in recent years. Therefore, he needed to visit them to present an up-to-date version.

The artist said he creates works such as this usingfine-linerr pens and most pieces are of the urban landscape (especially Taiwan’s). The map of Greater Taipei has English and Chinese versions and includes the routes for the MRT, HSR, TRC, and the Maokong Gondola.