When embarking on a brand new research topic, it is often helpful to begin your research by reading a basic overview of the subject. Resources such as encyclopedias provide such basic overviews; they help you familiarize yourself with relevant vocabulary, and often provide helpful suggestions for further reading as well.
In addition to online resources, our library also has many useful reference resources in print available. The best way to identify reference resources is to do a Subject search in CLIO for the relevant area and format, e.g. Asia encyclopedias, China maps
Once you have a result list you can then refine your result by applying limits from the sidebar on the left, e.g. Language > English. You can also sort the result list at the top right, e.g. Published Latest (to see the most recent publications at the top of the list). Once you see a title that looks just right for your purposes you can then click on the title to see the full bibliographic record. Take note of the call number and the location to find the item on the shelf. Most reference books will be housed in the reading room, and are non-circulating. Some reference items may also be housed in other libraries on campus.