If you want to see magnificent landscapes, enjoy gourmet food and learn about traditional Chinese customs and history, here are 10 themed tourism routes across the mainland have recently been selected by netizens and tourism experts. Yang Feiyue reports.

The 10 most recommended themed tourism routes in China have recently been selected by netizens and tourism experts. They were chosen out of 30 candidates that cover most of the country's tourism treasures. The selection was sponsored by China National Tourism Administration and aims to tap into the country's rich tourism resources.

The list features magnificent landscapes, gourmet food, traditional Chinese customs and history.

Clockwise from top: Hukou Waterfall in Shanxi province; Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang in Xi'an, Shaanxi province; Lijiang ancient town in Lijiang, Yunnan province; ice structures in Harbin's Ice and Snow World; and Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, Hubei province. They are among top sites of the themed tourism routes in China. Photos by Li Jin, Zhu Xingxin / China Daily and Provided to China Daily

1. Silk Road

Xi'an-Lanzhou-Xining-Qinghai Lake-Chaka Salt Lake-Qaidam Basin-Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Zhangye.

The route has silk, porcelain and spice elements and is steeped in history. It played an important part in the economic and culture exchanges between ancient China and other parts of the world. The route spans Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai provinces and the Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions. The areas are home to multiple ethnic groups and abundant cultural heritage.

Recommended sites: Qinghai Lake's Bird Island in Qinghai province; swan natural reserve in Bayanbulak Grassland in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region; Terracotta Warriors in Shaanxi province's capital Xi'an; Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang and Jiayuguan Pass of the Great Wall in Gansu province.

2. Beijing-Hangzhou Great Canal

Beijing-Tianjin-Cangzhou-Dezhou-Jining-Zaozhuang-Huai'an-Wuxi-Suzhou-Jiaxing-Hangzhou-Shaoxing-Ningbo.

The route takes visitors down the world's longest ancient canal that runs from Beijing across Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong and Jiangsu down to Zhejiang's provincial capital Hangzhou. The canal has contributed to economic and culture communication between the south and the north.

Recommended sites: Palace Museum in Beijing; Confucius temple, mansion and cemetery in Shandong province's Qufu; West Lake in Hangzhou.

3. Yangtze River

Nanjing-Hefei-Wuhan-Yichang-Chongqing.

The route runs from Qinghai's Tanggula Mountains across Chongqing, and Hubei and Hunan provinces. It covers the Qinghai-Tibet rail line, the pandas' habitat and water towns in southern China. The Yangtze River is the cradle of the 5,000-year Chinese civilization. Many ethnic groups live along this river.

Recommended sites: Mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen in Jiangsu province's Nanjing; Yellow Crane Tower in Hubei's capital Wuhan; Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River.

4. Yellow River

Jinan-Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Yan'an-Baotou-Yinchuan-Lanz-hou.

The route enables visitors to take in the Yellow River, China's second longest river, and valley and lake scenery. Many well-known and historical sites are found along the route.

Recommended sites: Hukou Waterfall in Shanxi; Mausoleum of Genghis Khan in Inner Mongolia; Sanmenxia reservoir, Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes in Henan; Taishan Mountain and Baotu Spring Park in Shandong.

5. Pearl River

Kunming-Qujing-Guiyang-Anshun-Guilin-Guangzhou-Shaoguan-Nanchang.

The route offers a taste of Lingnan culture and showcases the evolving culture along the Pearl River.

Recommended sites: Stone Forest in Kunming, Yunnan province; Huangguoshu Waterfall in Anshun, Guizhou province; Baiyunshan scenic spot in Guangzhou.

6.Winter fun in North China

Dalian-Shenyang-Changchun-Harbin-Hohhot-Chifeng-Manzhouli-Baotou-Erdos.

The route offers breathtaking natural and artificial winter scenery, winter sports and ice-snow art in northern China.

Recommended sites: Laohutan Ocean Park in Dalian, Liaoning province; Museum of the Imperial Palace of the Manchu State and Jingyuetan Park in Changchun, Jilin province; Sun Island in Harbin, Heilongjiang province; Dazhao Temple in Hohhot, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

7. Shangri-La

Kunming-Lijiang-Hutiaoxia (Tiger Leaping Gorge)-Shangri-La-Deqin-Markam-Zogang-Bomi-Ny-ingchi-Lhasa.

The route features heavenly landscapes, including high-altitude mountains and glaciers, as well as exotic Tibetan elements. It is ideal for self-drive tourists.

Recommended sites: Stone Forest in Kunming; Yulong (Jade Dragon) Snow Mountain and Lijiang ancient town; Potatso National Park in Shangri-La, Yunnan province; the Potala Palace in Lhasa.

8. South China Sea

Sanya-Haikou-Xisha-Dongsha-Nansha-Beibu Gulf.

The route gives visitors a taste of the charm of the South China Sea. Visitors can experience Buddhism, tropical rainforests, and Li and Miao ethnic culture at Betelnut Valley.

Recommended sites: Hainan province's Nanshan cultural tourism zone, Yanoda rain forest cultural tourism zone in Sanya; Qilou old street in Haikou.

9.Maritime Silk Road

Shanghai-Ningbo-Fuzhou-Quanz-hou-Zhangzhou-Guangzhou-Zhanji-ang-Beihai-Haikou-Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan.

The route runs through major coastal cities and showcases marine culture. The Maritime Silk Road connected China to the outside world in ancient times.

Recommended sites: Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai; Xikou scenic spot in Ningbo's Fenghua, Zhejiang province.

10. Red tourism

Longyan-Sanming-Hejiachong scenic spot-Jinggangshan-Ruijin-Zunyi-Loushanguan-Luding-Huining-Yan'an.

The route enables visitors to follow in the footsteps of the Red Army's Long March. Visitors can learn about martyrs and patriotism.

Recommended sites: Changting, Liancheng and Shanghang in Fujian province's Longyan; Jinggangshan in Jiangxi province.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/28/2016 page22)