my_map = Basemap(projection='merc', lat_0=38, lon_0=89,
                 resolution='h', area_thresh=0.1,
                 llcrnrlon=58, llcrnrlat=10,
                 urcrnrlon=143, urcrnrlat=55)

my_map.drawcoastlines()
# my_map.drawcountries()
my_map.fillcontinents(color='lightblue')
my_map.drawmapboundary()



lons = [125.352841, 87.6568,  73.052705]
lats = [43.903566,43.830036, 33.705168]
x, y = my_map(lons, lats)

labels = ['Changchun', 'Urumqi', 'Islamabad']
x_offsets = [250000] *3 
y_offsets = [200000] * 3


# x, y = map(lons, lats)

# my_map.plot(x, y, marker=None,color='r')    

my_map.plot(x, y, 'bo', markersize=10)

my_map.drawgreatcircle(125.352841, 43.903566, 87.6568, 43.830036, linewidth=2, color='c')
my_map.drawgreatcircle( 87.6568, 43.830036,73.052705,  33.705168, linewidth=2, color='c')

for label, xpt, ypt, x_offset, y_offset in zip(labels, x, y, x_offsets, y_offsets):
    plt.text(xpt + x_offset, ypt + y_offset, label, color='r')

plt.show()