Abstract: The research reviews the development of mapping as three periods: the classic morphological research era, the urban restructuring and new town development era, and the global diverse research theme era. The research analyzes the context of mapping, the role of the mapmaker and representative figures, mapping method and technique, and the meaning to urban interpretation and design at different eras and in different parts of the world. It is found that: 1) on the theoretical level, the way that people perceive cities has transformed from city as architecture to city as complex system; 2) the majority of the mapmakers were designers in the past, and now cross disciplinary scholars and multiple stakeholders have participated in the mapping process; 3) map dissection, map comparison, and collage and map combination are the main mapping technical methods; 4) mapping is taken as a tool for handling spatial data, for presentation and communication, and for design. By offering a portrait of mapping development trajectory for almost a century, the research intends to provide scientific and systematic methodology for urban design research and a possible trajectory from interpretation to design for urban design process.