Integrating Remote Sensing, Irrigation Suitability and Statistical Data for Irrigated Cropland Mapping over Mainland China

•A novel method was proposed to develop the first 250-m irrigation map in mainland China (CIrrMap250).•CIrrMap250 captures well the intensively irrigated areas and large-scale irrigation districts.•CIrrMap250 exhibits a better agreement with reference points than other irrigation maps.•Integrating irrigation suitability with remote sensing and statistics improves mapping accuracy.