Chinese Travellers Seek Authentic, Off-the-beaten-path Experiences Over Tourist Hotspots

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- As Chinese tourism booms, an increasing number of travellers are steering away from the usual tourist cities in favour of lesser-known destinations that offer more personal and authentic experiences.

For 30-year-old Ma Xinyu and her friends, this trend meant bypassing the popular tourist destination of Guilin in favour of exploring the rugged, unspoiled beauty of Hechi City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

"Since it was the peak travel season, we intended to steer clear of the well-worn tracks and ride down a scenic route. We took a fortnight gleaning information from social media before embarking on a budget-friendly road trip," Ma said.

The group’s decision led them to discover Hechi's hidden treasures, including Karst caves, underwater sinkholes, and ethnic villages, far from the usual tourist crowds.

Ma's sentiment is echoed by Xu Yamei, a corporate lawyer from Beijing who flew to Nanning, the capital of Guangxi, the day before the beginning of the National Day holiday and started a five-day road trip southward.

"Compared to those highly commercialised hotspots with overpriced entrance tickets, I prefer to opt for the relative unknown that remains largely undisturbed by over-development and insanely heavy foot traffic," Xu said.

Hechi’s hidden gems have made it a rising star in China's growing trend of ‘alternative tourism’, where travellers seek unique, authentic experiences rather than traditional, over-commercialised destinations, according to a statement.

The appeal of off-the-beaten-path destinations like these lies in their ability to offer unspoiled natural beauty, and local experiences of diverse cultures.

Qinzhou’s Sandun Highway, hailed as one of Guangxi’s most beautiful coastal highway has become an Instagram favourite for independent travellers in recent years, offering them the chance to connect with local traditions, such as the time-honoured ceramic art and the ethnic county known for its large number of centenarians.

As more travellers seek alternatives to traditional tourist hubs, destinations like Hechi, Qinzhou, and others across China are emerging as the new frontiers of domestic tourism, catering to those eager for discovery, personal experiences, and uncharted adventures.

-- BERNAMA