Although you can purchase the map from the tourist center, it might not be in English (I asked to ta

The first thing I did when landed in China was to search for the tourist map at the airport. To my surprise, there was none! I was so used to seeing shelves and shelves of tourist maps and information sheets greeting me at the airport. Such cold treatment in China was quite peculiar.
Although you can purchase the map from the tourist center, it might not be in English (I asked to take a look at the map but they refused to show it to me by giving a lot of excuses). You might find some brochures or booklet that features all the famous tourist spots, but it is very rare that you'll find them in English.
Technology being technology, can be unreliable at times (especially during emergencies). It is better to go old school and print the map at home beforehand. Make sure you have a separate general map, city map and subway map in your hand.
If you're ata airline flight information not as cheapskate as me, you can always purchase a reliable guide book in your local bookstore. Lonely Planet seems to be favorite of many travelers, but I've never been a fan. I prefer DK Eyewitness Travel Guide. It is more user-friendly with colored photos of attractions and colored ata airline flight information map.