Off the Beaten Track: China Beyond the Instagram Shots

The standard China backpacker route — Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Yangshuo, maybe Yunnan — exists because it is excellent. But China extends far beyond these highlights, and the willingness to venture further rewards with experiences that the main trail cannot provide. The country’s size means that getting off the beaten track does not require exceptional effort, just time and tolerance for situations where English signage and tourist infrastructure do not exist.

Gansu province traces the Silk Road through landscapes that feel more Central Asian than Chinese. Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves contain Buddhist art that survived centuries of desert isolation. The Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains) deliver stratified geology in colours that look Photoshopped. Jiayuguan Fort marks where the Great Wall ends at the edge of the Gobi Desert. The region sees fewer tourists because the distances are vast; the rewards justify the effort.

Fujian province on the southeast coast contains the tulou — circular earthen buildings that housed entire clans and now offer homestay experiences that provide glimpses of traditional life. Xiamen, the nearby city, combines beach life with colonial architecture. The combination works for those heading toward Southeast Asia or seeking coastal variation from the inland classics.

Guizhou province in the southwest has been called China’s hidden gem for long enough that the gem is no longer particularly hidden, but still sees far fewer visitors than it deserves. The minority villages of the Miao and Dong people preserve traditions that Han Chinese culture has forgotten. The Huangguoshu Falls are Asia’s largest. The karst landscapes rival Yangshuo without the tourist infrastructure. The food is distinctive and delicious.

The far west — Xinjiang, Tibet — presents complicated realities that require more than a travel guide to address. The landscapes are extraordinary; the political situations are sensitive; the requirements for visiting (permits for Tibet, potential surveillance in Xinjiang) differ from other Chinese provinces. Visiting is possible but requires research that goes beyond budget tips into questions that each traveller must answer for themselves. The choice to go or not go is legitimate either way; the choice should be informed.