Traveling your own road

Country opera in Bazhou, Hebei. Photo provided to China Daily

The rise of independent driving comes as a new generation of Chinese traveler emerges. Travelers who are more independent, adventurous and looking for authentic, unique experiences.

To cash in on the relatively untapped market and boost tourism, Hebei province, in North China, has designed a series of "travel routes" to urge people to get behind the wheel and see what the region has to offer.

The province, which is often overshadowed by neighboring Beijing and Tianjin, is home to 48 historic towns and villages, according to Wang Jianjun, deputy chief of the marketing department at Hebei Tourism Bureau.

Must-see sites in Hebei include the mountain resort of Chengde, which was the largest royal summer resort of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Eight Outer Temples and Shanhaiguan Pass, the easternmost end of the Great Wall.

Wang's department was responsible for creating the ten travel routes, which he says vary in duration from two to five days and include stops at sites of interest, some of which are off the beaten track.

"Hebei is rich in historic villages and towns with distinct features and are worth visiting. The historic villages and towns in Hebei, I think, are all great. Some self-drive tourists prefer places where few people visit and are not developed much. Others like places that are easy to get to," he says.