With the increasing number of private cars, friends or families getting together for self-driving trips has become a very popular way to vacation.
It is understood that netizens often post messages to recruit “travel buddies” for self-driving tours—to soak in hot springs at Changbai Mountain, sightsee at Qianshan, or take snowy landscapes in Snow Town... These posts are highly appealing to those who enjoy outdoor activities. In recent years, some car 4S dealerships in Jilin Province have also organized owner-led self-driving tours, attracting many participants.
Currently, there are not many travel agencies in Jilin Province that specialize in self-driving tours, with only about a dozen. Li Huiping, general manager of Huaxia Travel Agency, which is known for organizing self-driving routes, said that as the number of private cars continues to rise, the market for self-driving tours is also expanding. Every year, Huaxia Travel Agency organizes self-driving groups, with each group consisting of over 20 vehicles and nearly 100 tourists.
Mr. Li has been going on self-driving tours for many years and has made quite a few like-minded friends. “Except for those destinations that are too far away, we’ve pretty much covered all the scenic spots around Jilin Province,” he said enthusiastically. Participants in self-driving tours are mostly friends or acquaintances, traveling freely and stopping wherever they find something interesting. They ask fellow netizens if there are any undeveloped attractions nearby, and if so, they drive there to check them out—such as photographing rapeseed flowers, tasting special farmhouse snacks, buying free-range eggs and wild honey, and so on. The atmosphere and experience are definitely not something you can get from joining a tour group. “We’re not the most extreme—some car enthusiasts have driven to Detian Waterfall in Guangxi, Mount Lu in Jiangxi, and Nanxi River in Zhejiang!”
Reporters noted that many car owners and netizens who initiate or join self-driving tours usually state in advance that participation is voluntary, with individuals assuming their own risks and responsibilities. They also emphasize environmental protection—no hunting of animals, no chopping of trees, biodegradable waste to be buried on-site, and other trash to be collected and taken away for proper disposal.
