At 1:36 pm on December 30, the 36 annual ultimate routes of the 2017 China Self-Driving Route Selection were officially announced and released at the China National Convention Center in Beijing under the joint witness of on-site and off-site judging partners, opinion leaders, and national mainstream media.
From the sacred kora pilgrimage depicted in the hit film "Paths of the Soul" to the newly listed World Natural Heritage site of Hoh Xil; from the heavenly realm where humans and deities coexist to pristine wild camping spots; from the solitary desert poplar forests to the majestic horse herds on grassland paradises; from the shimmering tidal flats hailed as the most beautiful to the stunning starry skies and galaxies over Black Rock City; from spicy and flavorful Sichuan cuisine to the street snacks of Anshun in Guizhou; from the Zen of Buddhist mountains to the tranquility of Qingcheng Mountain—exploring roots, capturing history, hiking, cycling, camping, and resting... The 36 annual ultimate routes of the 2017 China Self-Driving Route Selection offer you a richer self-driving travel experience.
Since its inception in 2012, the China Self-Driving Route Selection has been committed to finding and creating 36 annual ultimate routes for driving enthusiasts every year. Now in its sixth edition, it has grown from a fledgling initiative to a well-established system, gradually gaining recognition and support from tourism industry partners such as local tourism bureaus, tourism associations, and self-driving clubs across the country.
This year’s selection kicked off in Anshun, Guizhou on June 6 and concluded its submission period on August 16. The organizing committee received a total of 3,341 entries. After considering factors such as departure locations, theme categories, and regional distribution, the committee conducted a rigorous and meticulous format review, narrowing down the entries to 147 finalists. These were then recommended by 36 national opinion leaders, resulting in 72 nominated routes, which were unveiled in Qinglong, Guizhou on September 20. Subsequently, after two months of offline experiences and online voting by millions of self-driving travelers, a total of 1,689,871 votes were cast, with 9,506,854 reads and views. Compared to previous editions, this year saw upgrades and optimizations in both the selection rules and timeline. After the official launch of the selection website on October 1, the three-month online voting period was shortened to two months, and the voting weight of the expert panel (36 opinion leaders and 36 chief judges) was increased, aiming to recommend more authoritative and professional self-driving routes for enthusiasts.
Notably, this year’s selection was based in Guizhou. As the honorary cooperating province, Guizhou took the lead in hosting the “Guizhou Self-Driving Route Selection,” mobilizing tourism departments from all nine prefectures and cities, the Gui’an New Area, two directly administered counties, as well as local tourism enterprises and clubs to actively design and participate in the selection. The three-month Guizhou Self-Driving Route Selection has yielded fruitful results, and the "Thirty-Six Strategies for Self-Driving in Guizhou," compiled based on the selection outcomes, made its debut at the press conference.
In 2018, as one of the chief judges, Banma Network will upgrade its Banma Intelligent Driving 2.0 over-the-air system, based on AliOS, by adding a “Journey” feature that perfectly addresses the needs of self-driving travelers. Building on the “Thirty-Six Strategies for Self-Driving in Guizhou,” Banma Network will establish full connectivity of routes through three-screen integration—vehicle, mobile, and PC—precisely reaching 400,000 intelligent connected vehicle owners, thereby promoting the productization and commercialization of Guizhou’s self-driving routes.
Additionally, provinces such as Yunnan, Sichuan, Tibet, Fujian, Zhejiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, and Guangxi also achieved notable success in this year’s selection.
Productizing One Year’s Worth of Selection Results
After the annual routes are announced, how to productize them to provide users with an ultimate self-driving experience? This has been a question the selection has continuously pondered, explored, and strived to address since its inception. Li Keqi, the chief architect of the China Self-Driving Route Selection and founder & CEO of Aijia Media, pointed out that the fundamental purpose of the selection is to collaborate with high-quality resources in the self-driving industry to provide users with route-guided self-driving solutions and create the ultimate experience on the road. At the China National Convention Center, a series of route productization initiatives were officially launched—
The 36 annual ultimate routes of the 2017 selection will be included in the 2018 China Self-Driving Yearbook "Thirty-Six Roads Every Aijia Driver Must Take," making its debut on March 6, Self-Driving Day, next year. This China Self-Driving Yearbook, based on the 36 routes of the 2018 selection, is a decade-in-the-making product of Aijia Media, offering users high-quality content recommendations for self-driving trips and serving as a gateway to self-driving products. The 2018 edition not only features a series of innovations in binding design and map layout but also continues its collaborative content creation approach: partner Landmark Ingredients is dedicated to finding natural delicacies from their source, recommending the most authentic local specialties for drivers on the road; KEYS Co-living is committed to showcasing the homes of a new generation of Chinese people to the world and will recommend the most suitable curated homestays based on the 36 annual routes. Aijia Media and Changdu jointly host the China Self-Driving Mobile Photography Competition, enriching the presentation of the ultimate routes. Additionally, this year features a special recruitment drive for honorary editorial board members, inviting renowned self-driving experts to join the yearbook’s creation, contributing their professional insights, extensive experience, and strong writing skills to co-create content.
Starting from New Year’s Day 2018, over the course of the next year, Aijia Media will collaborate with related partners in the self-driving industry to promote and develop the 36 annual routes for a full year.
The 2018 edition of "Thirty-Six Roads Every Aijia Driver Must Take" will be presented to users on March 6, Self-Driving Day, next year. Pre-orders for the 2018 edition of the self-driving yearbook are now being accepted through official Aijia Media channels.
Self-Driving Travel Conference Pays Tribute to Self-Driving Day
The Self-Driving Travel Conference (Road Trip Festival) is held annually around March 6, Self-Driving Day, as a grand multi-day festival centered around self-driving travel. It includes an [Aijia Gala] that shares the achievements of the China Self-Driving Route Selection for the year, serving as the Oscars of the self-driving industry, and a high-end gathering of global cuisine, scenery, and treasures; a [Self-Driving Industry Summit Forum] that brings together elites from the automotive, tourism, finance, media, entertainment, investment, consulting, and marketing sectors to discuss cutting-edge trends and strategies in the self-driving industry, share the most innovative product experiences, gather the most dynamic investment and marketing resources, and co-create value; and a [Future Automotive Life Show] that showcases cutting-edge black technologies, services, and entertainment in the fields of cars, outdoor activities, camping, off-roading, customization, tourism, e-commerce, and other aspects of self-driving travel—all in a 360-degree panoramic display of the latest scenarios and experiences. Kicking off the new year, this B2B2C annual event in the self-driving travel field pays tribute to Self-Driving Day and opens a new chapter.
Mr. Li Keqi, CEO of Aijia Media, Announces the Theme of the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference
At the press conference, Mr. Li Keqi, CEO of Aijia Media, revealed the venue for the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference—the Shanghai Poly Grand Theater (in Jiading District)—and the conference theme: Cooperation · Focus · Innovation. Jiading is home to China’s first expressway, the Shanghai-Jiading Expressway, China’s first professional automobile museum, the only FIA-sanctioned top-tier F1 racetrack in China, and the first approved “National Intelligent Connected Vehicle (Shanghai) Pilot Demonstration Zone.” A glance at the map of this ancient city reveals the characters “Shang” (up) and “Hai” (sea) hidden within Jiading.Thus, the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference has chosen to land in Shanghai · Jiading, a hub of Chinese automotive culture. The artistically inclined Poly Grand Theater also adds an imaginative touch to the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference.
▲Venue of the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference: Shanghai Poly Grand Theater @ Jiading
He also previewed for attendees and media the “In-Depth Exploration Journey of G318: Every Driver’s Must-Drive Road” 2018 China Automotive Culture Official Roadshow, aimed at further solidifying the achievements of the 2017 China Automotive Culture Official Roadshow “Retracing G318: Building a National Highway.” The journey will explore along the G318 corridor with a vision of building an industrial belt, promote the G318 highway travel IP, and drive the establishment of the G318 National Highway Self-Driving Industry Alliance through roadshow efforts.
Mr. Li Keqi, CEO of Aijia Media, Announces the “In-Depth Exploration Journey of G318: Every Driver’s Must-Drive Road” 2018 China Automotive Culture Official Roadshow
Meanwhile, Aijia Media has partnered with the Garze Prefecture Tourism Development Commission of Sichuan Province to jointly launch the G318 Industry Alliance. By establishing the G318 Industry Alliance, the initiative calls on resource managers along the G318 and national self-driving industry partners to collaborate on research and promotion, resource matchmaking, project implementation, and product operations to jointly build the G318 National Highway Self-Driving Industry Belt and highway travel IP. This will promote the development of regional tourism along the G318 corridor and improve the supply of self-driving travel nationwide. At the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference, the Garze Prefecture Tourism Development Commission will lead the “Building the G318 Highway IP” discussion session and concurrently host the preparatory meeting for the G318 Industry Alliance.
Following their 2017 collaboration on “Retracing 318: Building China’s National Highway,” in 2018, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company of the USA will deepen its annual strategic partnership with Aijia Media. In addition to providing its latest extreme off-road tires, the DISCOVERER STT PRO (“Off-Road Master”), professional technical support, and off-road tire consulting services for fleets, Cooper will launch a customized tire program for the top 100 Aijia clubs in 2018, bringing the concept of tire customization to all off-road enthusiasts. Additionally, partners such as Xiaokang Magazine, KEYS Co-living, Banma Network, Landmark Ingredients, and SMART will also contribute from their respective areas of expertise.
Guests and media at the press conference took photos
Subsequently, Lin Jiajing, liaison officer of the China Self-Driving Route Selection Organizing Committee, revealed that the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference will also release the “Self-Driving Travel Industry Report Census” on-site, featuring lists/reports on self-driving travel, including travel, insurance, sightseeing, accommodation, entertainment, and shopping, to be unveiled to users. She also shared the confirmed conference partnerships to date: the Guizhou Provincial Tourism Development Commission will lead the showcase of the first honorary cooperating province; Taigek Homestay, managed by Statek Homestay, will present a surprising marketplace of off-city homestays for the new middle class; Camping China, which continuously promotes the healthy and sustainable development of China’s campsite industry, will manage the national campsite showcase; Ctrip Rental Cars will manage the self-drive travel section; ZD Technology will manage the green travel section; Yuanmeng Kangjian will release a safety rescue index in conjunction with the annual 36 routes; the China RV Rental Alliance will manage the RV and camping section; the Hotel Bang Growth Alliance will manage the accommodation section; Auto Intelligence will host the “2018 China Automotive Industry Outstanding Achievement Awards Ceremony” at the Waterscape Theater; and Everest Weddings will create the “Tibet Everest Wedding Show.” More content for the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference is still being added—stay tuned.
Mr. Dai Ke, Vice President of Yunjie Liangshu, Shares Data Analysis from the Self-Driving Travel Industry Report
Ms. Gao Hui, Director of Brand Development at Yuanmeng Kangjian, Shares How Yuanmeng Kangjian Will Release a Safety Rescue Index Based on the Annual 36 Routes
Mr. Ding Hongbo, Secretary-General of the China RV Rental Alliance, Shares Ten New Trends in RV and Camping Development
Mr. Chen Shuangjin, General Manager of Zhijia You (Xiamen) Network Technology Co., Ltd., Announces the 2017 China Self-Driving Club Top 100 Selection Rules
Content of the Self-Driving Travel Conference:
10,000+ on-site attendees, 1,000+ government and corporate decision-makers, 1,000+ media outlets broadcasting simultaneously, 600+ leading industry enterprises, 100+ self-driving travel KOLs, 100+ on-site media reports, 36+ corporate product solution showcases, 36+ ultimate routes unveiled, 36 high-end networking sessions, 6 "Stories from Passionate Drivers" talks, and a 36-hour showcase of the future of automotive lifestyle.
Prior to the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference, as preliminary warm-up events, the 2017 China Camping Industry Annual Ceremony and the 5th SMART Resort Industry Summit paved the way. Sun Jiandong, President of Sunlight Domain, and Wang Xu, Founder of SMART Resort Industry, also shared the latest information about these two major annual events.
Ms. Tang Zhao, CEO of Camping World, introduces the 2017 China Camping Industry Annual Ceremony.
Mr. Wang Xu, Secretary-General of the SMART Exclusive Industry Committee, introduces the 5th SMART Resort Industry Summit.
Self-Driving Day — a grassroots festival that connects hundreds of millions of users nationwide with a self-driving travel consumption market worth 4 trillion yuan, a key moment for self-driving enthusiasts to make their voices heard, escape, and realize their dreams, and an industry extravaganza that links demand and creates ultimate self-driving experiences. How will you participate in co-creating Self-Driving Day?
On March 6th next year, at the Shanghai Poly Grand Theater, meet the beauty and share the dream. Sign up now via the official website of the 2018 Self-Driving Travel Conference (36lu.cn).
Appendix: The List of the 36 Annual Routes Unveiled in the 2017 China Self-Driving Travel Route Selection
Long-Distance Cultural Routes:
Mount Kailash | A Spiritual Journey Across the Soul’s Terrain
Route Design: Chengdu Dianxing Marketing Planning Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Ngari Prefecture Tourism Development Commission
Southeast Guizhou | Tracing the Clear River — A Millennium of Miao and Dong Culture
Route Design: Guizhou Ziyouspace Auto Club
Resource Management: Southeast Guizhou Tourism Development Commission
Ordos | A Journey Through the Untamed Wilderness
Route Design: Inner Mongolia Free Guide Cultural Tourism Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Ordos Tourism Bureau
Long-Distance Geographic Routes:
The Northwest | Danxia Lakes and Seas, Desert Solitude
Route Design: Beijing 969 Auto Club
Resource Management: Gansu Province Tourism Development Commission
Ride Around Taiwan | Mountain Mist, Sea Breezes, Coastal Roads
Route Design: Aiche Global Self-Driving Auto Culture (Group) Club
Resource Management: Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Nujiang Grand Canyon | Through Peaks and Flames — Exploring the Dulong River
Route Design: Nujiang Prefecture Tourism Development Commission
Resource Management: Nujiang Prefecture Tourism Development Commission
Mid-Distance Cultural Routes:
Shannan Loop | A Journey to the Origins of Tibetan Culture
Route Design: Tibet’s Eagle Self-Driving Camp Club Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Shannan Tourism Development Committee
Goddess of Wushan | Tracing the Origins of Wu Culture and Embracing the Sentiments of Bashu and Chu
Route Design: Wushan Painting Academy
Resource Management: Wushan County Tourism Bureau
Source of the Yarlung Tsangpo River | The Reincarnation Lake and the Millennium Gexie Dance
Route Design: Shigatse Tourism Bureau
Resource Management: Shigatse Tourism Bureau
Mid-Route Leisure Type:
Shangri-La | Embracing the Warmth of Winter and the Sunshine of the Plateau
Route Design: Kunming Sailai Tourism Planning & Design Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Shangri-La Foreign Affairs and Tourism Development Committee
Southern Hulunbuir Route | A Fantastical Journey of Mountains and Grasslands
Route Design: Camping World & Butong Car Town
Resource Management: Hulunbuir Tourism Development Committee
Guilin Scenery | The Charm of the Li River and Life in Yangshuo
Route Design: Guangdong Quche Self-Drive Travel Club
Resource Management: Yangshuo County Tourism Bureau
Mid-Route Nature Type:
Hoh Xil | Guarding the Forbidden Zone of Life
Route Design: Yunnan CTS Aotu RV Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Tourism Bureau
Nianbaoyuze | Venturing into the Garden of the Gods
Route Design: Jiuzhi County Tourism Bureau
Resource Management: Jiuzhi County Tourism Bureau
Gaoligong | Crossing the Most Beautiful Mountain Ridge
Route Design: Yunnan KANGTENG Travel Development Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Baoshan Tourism Development Committee
Short-Distance Exploration Type:
Green Triangle | The Last Untouched Paradise in China
Route Design: Shangri-La Wukong Travel Technology Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Pu'er City Tourism Development Commission
Qinglong | Turning the Corner of History to Meet You
Route Design: Qinglong County Culture, Sports, Radio, Film, Television, and Tourism Bureau
Resource Management: Qinglong County Culture, Sports, Radio, Film, Television, and Tourism Bureau
Twelve Backsides | Exploring the Earth’s Core at Shuanghe Cave
Route Design: Guizhou Twelve Backsides Tourism Group
Resource Management: Zunyi City Tourism Development Commission
Short-Distance Rural Routes:
The Three Islands of the Jing Ethnicity | Fishing Songs on the Golden Beach
Route Design: Guangxi Drive-to Self-Drive Club
Resource Management: Fangchenggang City Tourism Development Commission
Deqing | A Utopia Not Far Away
Route Design: Deqing County Culture and Tourism Development Group
Resource Management: Deqing County Culture and Tourism Development Group
Hongcun | Whitewashed Walls and Black Tiles, Dreams of Yixian
Route Design: Huangshan City Self-Driving Tour Association
Resource Management: Huangshan City Tourism Development Commission
Short-Distance Photography Routes:
Xiapu Tidal Flats | Fishing Boats Singing at Sunset
Route Design: Xiapu County Tourism Bureau
Resource Management: Xiapu County Tourism Bureau
Black Rock City | Magnificent Starry Skies and Gongga Sunset
Route Design: Chengdu Dianxing Marketing Planning Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Tourism Development Commission
Hanging Temple | A Grand Sight Suspended Between Cliffs
Route Design: Hengshan Scenic Area Management Committee
Resource Management: Hengshan Scenic Area Management Committee
Short-Distance Festival Routes:
Mazu's Water Parade | Maritime Faith on Zhujiangyu
Route Design: Xiapu County Tourism Bureau
Resource Management: Xiapu County Tourism Bureau
Shehuo in Yu County | Fire Trees and Golden Flowers Celebrate the New Year
Route Design: Beijing 969 Auto Club
Resource Management: Yu County Tourism Bureau
Daughter’s Meeting | Singing Duets to Express Love at the “Bianbian Meeting”
Route Design: Enshi Eco-Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Enshi City Tourism Bureau
Short-Term Family-Friendly Trips:
Funtopia Park | A Magical Journey to Disney
Route Design: BTG Homeinns Hotel Group
Resource Management: Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration
Sonid Right Banner | Ulan Muqir, the Elves of the Grassland
Route Design: Sonid Right Banner Culture and Tourism Bureau
Resource Management: Sonid Right Banner Culture and Tourism Bureau
Soaked in Taining | Danxia Lakes and Mountains Full of Mischief
Route Design: Sanming City Tourism Bureau
Resource Management: Sanming City Tourism Bureau
Short-Term Zen & Retreat Trips:
Litang | One Mountain, One Temple, One Pure Land
Route Design: Litang County Tourism Investment Development Co., Ltd.
Resource Management: Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Tourism Development Commission
Qingcheng Mountain | Seeking the Way Amidst Tranquil Mountains and Waters
Route Design: Dujiangyan City Tourism Bureau
Resource Management: Dujiangyan City Tourism Bureau
Mount Putuo | The Buddhist Kingdom by the Sea, Serene Putuo
Route Design: Zhoushan Municipal Tourism Commission
Resource Management: Zhoushan Municipal Tourism Commission
Short-Term Foodie Trips:
Spicy Chengdu | A Grand Feast of Sichuan Flavors and Bean Paste Aroma
coffee coffee beans espresso geisha coffee latte cappuccino arabica robusta pour over cold brew