Explore the real-world places that appear in World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include New Dachang Village, Yonkers Battlefield, Hope, New Mexico, West Point Military Academy, Robben Island and 7 more.
Rural Chongqing Province — Patient Zero origin
This remote village is where twelve-year-old Patient Zero first contracted the infection, marking the beginning of the global zombie outbreak. Dr. Kwang Jingshu interviews locals who witnessed the boy's transformation and the initial spread. The Chinese government's cover-up begins here, with officials claiming it was rabies while secretly implementing containment protocols.
New Dachang represents countless rural villages in China's mountainous interior, where traditional ways of life persisted even as the country modernized. These isolated communities often lacked proper medical facilities and relied on folk remedies.
The area around Chongqing continues to be a mix of rural villages and rapid urban development. Many small villages have been relocated or absorbed into larger administrative units as part of China's urbanization efforts.
Saw Mill River Parkway — The Great Panic's climax
The disastrous Battle of Yonkers becomes the symbol of military failure against the undead. Colonel Christina Eliopolis recounts how conventional military tactics failed spectacularly when zombies overran heavily armed positions. Tank commander Sergeant Avalon describes watching zombies climb over destroyed Abrams tanks while news cameras broadcast the defeat worldwide, triggering the Great Panic.
Yonkers has been a strategic location since colonial times due to its position along the Hudson River north of New York City. During the Revolutionary War, it saw several skirmishes between American and British forces.
Yonkers is New York's fourth-largest city, a diverse urban area with parks, museums, and the historic Hudson River waterfront. The Saw Mill River Parkway remains a major transportation corridor connecting Westchester County to New York City.
Visit: Yonkers Battlefield Park (park)
Remote desert town — Military safe zone
This small desert town becomes a crucial safe zone during the American reclamation efforts. General D'Ambrosia describes establishing defensive positions here as part of the western campaign. Survivors like Sharon and Roy Elliott recount life in the military-protected zone, where civilians learned combat skills while the army regrouped for Operation Avalanche.
Hope, New Mexico was founded in the early 1900s as a railroad town. It gained brief fame as the boyhood home of comedian Bob Hope, though he actually lived there for only a few years.
Hope remains a small desert community in southeastern New Mexico, with a population of fewer than 200 people. It's known primarily for its connection to Bob Hope and its location along US Highway 82.
Hudson River Valley — Military command center
West Point serves as a crucial military command center during the war's later phases. General Morrison describes coordinating the American counteroffensive from here, while Colonel Kondo recalls joint training exercises with international forces. The academy's strategic position and symbolic importance make it a rallying point for military morale.
Founded in 1802, the United States Military Academy at West Point has trained military leaders for over two centuries. Located on a strategic bend in the Hudson River, it has been a fortified position since the Revolutionary War.
West Point continues to operate as the premier U.S. military academy, training future Army officers. The campus is open to visitors for tours of its historic buildings, museums, and beautiful Hudson River location.
Visit: West Point Museum (museum)
Table Bay, Cape Town — South African refuge
The former prison island becomes part of Paul Redeker's brutal survival plan for South Africa. Maria Zhuganova describes the ethical nightmare of implementing the Redeker Plan, which sacrifices portions of the population to save others. The island's isolation makes it an ideal refuge for selected survivors while the mainland burns.
Robben Island served as a political prison for centuries, most famously holding Nelson Mandela for 18 years during apartheid. The harsh conditions and isolation made it South Africa's Alcatraz.
Robben Island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum dedicated to the struggle against apartheid. Ferries run daily from Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, offering tours led by former political prisoners.
Visit: Robben Island Museum (museum)
Underground ossuaries — Survivor hideout
The ancient underground tunnels become a refuge for Parisian survivors during the worst of the outbreak. Philippe Adler recounts leading groups through the maze of bone-lined passages, using his knowledge of the tunnels to avoid both zombies and other desperate survivors. The catacombs' centuries of human remains take on new meaning when the dead walk above.
Created in the late 18th century to solve Paris's overflowing cemetery problem, the Catacombs hold the remains of over six million people in underground limestone quarries dating back to Roman times.
The Paris Catacombs operate as a popular tourist attraction, though only a small section is open to the public. The ossuary displays the bones in artistic arrangements that attract visitors from around the world.
Visit: The Catacombs of Paris (museum)
Thessaly, Greece — Mountaintop refuge
The ancient cliff-top monasteries become natural fortresses during the outbreak. Brother Joseph describes how the monks opened their doors to refugees, creating a medieval-style community high above the infected valleys. The monasteries' inaccessible location and self-sufficient lifestyle prove ideal for surviving the zombie apocalypse.
Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Meteora monasteries were constructed on towering rock pillars for protection and spiritual isolation. Monks originally accessed them only by rope ladders and baskets.
Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with six active monasteries open to visitors. The dramatic landscape and Byzantine art attract tourists and pilgrims from around the world, accessible now by roads and bridges.
Visit: Meteora Monasteries (historic site)
Ladakh, India — Himalayan fortress
Rajesh Singh transforms his family's mountain estate into an impregnable fortress against the undead. He describes using the natural advantages of high altitude and harsh climate, where zombies freeze solid in winter. The stronghold becomes a model for mountain survival strategies, proving that elevation and cold are humanity's greatest allies.
Ladakh has been a strategic region for centuries due to its position along ancient trade routes between India, Tibet, and Central Asia. The harsh high-altitude desert has been home to Buddhist communities for over a thousand years.
Ladakh is now a union territory of India, known for its stunning landscapes, Buddhist monasteries, and adventure tourism. The region attracts trekkers, mountaineers, and those seeking spiritual retreats in the high Himalayas.
Bass Strait, Australia — Naval operations
Commander Sinclair describes naval operations in the Bass Strait, where the Australian Navy maintains crucial supply lines to Tasmania during the continental retreat. The treacherous waters become a lifeline for survivors fleeing the overrun mainland, while submarine crews deal with the psychological horror of knowing the surface world has fallen to the undead.
Bass Strait has been a crucial shipping lane since European settlement of Australia. The rough waters between mainland Australia and Tasmania have claimed hundreds of ships over the centuries.
Bass Strait remains an important shipping route and is crossed by ferries connecting Tasmania to Victoria. The area is also significant for offshore oil and gas production in Australian waters.
Northern China — Last defensive line
General Chen describes the desperate final stand along sections of the Great Wall, where Chinese forces make their last organized resistance before the government's retreat to Taiwan. The ancient fortification, built to keep out barbarian invaders, becomes humanity's final bulwark against a very different kind of enemy from the north.
Built over many dynasties from the 7th century BC to the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall was China's greatest defensive project, stretching over 13,000 miles to protect against northern invasions.
The Great Wall is one of the world's most famous tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Multiple sections near Beijing are restored and open to visitors, while other parts remain in various states of preservation.
Visit: Great Wall of China at Badaling (historic site)
Cape Town, South Africa — Strategic headquarters
Paul Redeker develops his controversial survival plan from Cape Town, creating a strategy that saves humanity at an unthinkable cost. Dr. Oliveira describes the moral weight of implementing a plan that deliberately sacrifices millions to save thousands. The plan becomes the model for global survival strategy, despite its brutal logic.
Cape Town has served as South Africa's legislative capital and a strategic port city since Dutch settlement in 1652. Its location at the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans made it crucial for maritime trade.
Cape Town remains South Africa's second-largest city and a major tourist destination, known for Table Mountain, its wine regions, and as the country's legislative capital. The V&A Waterfront and historic city center attract millions of visitors annually.
Ross Island, Antarctica — Isolated outpost
Dr. Fernando Oliveira recounts life at the research station during the outbreak, where the extreme isolation becomes both curse and blessing. The small crew must deal with the psychological horror of knowing the world has ended while they remain trapped in the frozen wasteland, completely cut off from the outside world until rescue arrives years later.
Antarctic research stations have operated since the early 20th century, with international cooperation formalized by the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. These outposts have enabled crucial scientific research in Earth's most remote continent.
Ross Island hosts several research stations, including McMurdo Station (USA) and Scott Base (New Zealand). These facilities continue to support scientific research in fields ranging from climate science to astronomy.
More by Max Brooks: All Max Brooks books