Traveling your own road

Artists at Bazhou Peasants' Calligarphy and Painting Association. Photo provided to China Daily

Beijing and Tianjin are two of China's four municipalities and are governed separately from Hebei province, which surrounds the two regions.

However, the three places are working to integrate and coordinate their development to form a globally competitive and influential area following President Xi Jinping's suggestion in February 2014.

This joint development includes the travel and tourism industry and both Beijing and Tianjin support the travel routes, with three designed to start in the capital, two in Tianjin and the remaining five in Hebei.

Given China's sheer size, drivers could be put off by the prospect of long, tiresome distances but Wang says Hebei is particularly good for seeing a lot in a short time and that travelers do not have to spend much time behind the wheel.

"We considered the feasibility of the routes. Villages and towns on the routes are near main highways. It is convenient and will not take travelers too much driving time.

"In Northwest China, you might drive half a day or even a whole day and then find a scenic spot. But villages and towns in the routes can be reached easily and there will be no problem finding them," he says.