Best Driving Routes in April: Where to Go on a Road Trip in April

Spring has sprung, and with it comes the perfect opportunity for a road trip. There are many great places to go for a spring road trip, but some destinations are better than others. So, where are the best places to go on a road trip in April?

1. Anhui · Southern Anhui Trip

Driving Route:

Huangshan→Tangyue→Xin’an River→Yangchan Tulou→Shitang Village→Xiatai Village→Hongcun→Qiyun Mountain→Muli Biao→Huangshan

Scenery along the way: Tangyue Archway Street, Xin’an River Gallery, Yangchan Tulou, Shitang Village, Hongcun, Muli Biao

The poetic mountains and waters of Southern Anhui and the picturesque flower seas of Huizhou are waiting to be discovered on this route.

Starting in Huangshan, you’ll pass Tangyue Archway Street, a family monument built by a merchant family over 400 years; the Xin’an River Gallery, which is filled with rapeseed flowers in March and April; and Yangchan Tulou, a small mountain fort.

You’ll also encounter Hongcun, known as “the village in the Chinese painting,” and Shitang Village, a high-altitude village that explodes with rapeseed flowers, peach blossoms, and pear blossoms in March and April.

There’s also Muli Biao, a hidden gem known as “the most beautiful mountain village in Huangshan.”

2. Southeastern Tibet Loop · See Tibet’s Most Classic Scenery

Driving Route:

Lhasa→Yamdrok Yumtso→Zêdang→Samye Monastery→Lhamo Latso→Gacha→Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon→Lulang→Medog→Bomi→Laigu Glacier→Ranwu Lake→Lulang Town→Linzhi

Scenery along the way: Yamdrok Yumtso, Samye Monastery, Lhamo Latso, Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, Lulang, Laigu Glacier, Ranwu Lake

This Southeastern Tibet loop allows you to see virtually all of Tibet’s scenic highlights. It includes snow mountains, forests, wetlands, Tibetan villages, grasslands, and much more.

You’ll encounter stunning lakes like Yamdrok Yumtso, one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet, alongside Lhamo Latso, the most legendary lake in Tibet, and Ranwu Lake, the main source of the Parlung Tsangpo, a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

You’ll also pass by magnificent mountains like Laigu Glacier, a giant dragon-shaped glacial belt that radiates outwards from Laigu Village, and Nanga Parbat, the 15th highest peak in the world, known as “China’s Most Beautiful Snow Mountain” by China National Geographic.

And then there are natural wonders like the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, the deepest canyon on earth, which also offers the best views of Nanga Parbat; the Lulang Scenic Area, boasting the most pristine forest scenery on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway; and Samye Monastery, known as “Tibet’s First Monastery.”

No matter where you stop along the way, you’re bound to be amazed.

3. Jiangsu and Zhejiang · Southern Jiangsu Ancient Town Tour

Driving Route: Huzhou→Nanxun→Jiaxing→Wuzhen→Xitang→Suzhou→Zhouzhuang→Tongli

Scenery along the way: Nanxun Ancient Town, Wuzhen, Xitang, Zhouzhuang, Tongli

Spring and summer are the best seasons to visit the ancient towns of Southern Jiangsu, and this classic route will let you experience the most iconic ancient towns in one trip.

Nanxun is filled with rich historical and cultural heritage, as well as a poetic charm reminiscent of the southern water towns.

Wuzhen, meanwhile, perfectly preserves the appearance and layout of the water town from the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. It’s also known as the “Land of Rice and Fish.”

Zhouzhuang, also known as “China’s First Water Town,” is a truly authentic example of “small bridges and flowing water, homes of people.”

Tongli has many bridges and waterways, as well as many Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings. It’s a blend of ancient charm and modern sophistication.

Xitang is one of the six major ancient towns in Southern Jiangsu, a living thousand-year-old town that’s also one of the birthplaces of ancient Wu Yue culture.

4. Guizhou · The Most Beautiful Scenery in Southwestern Guizhou

Driving Route:

Guiyang→Yunfeng Tuntou→Huangguoshu Waterfall→Wanfenglin Rapeseed Flower Sea→Maling River Gorge→Wumeng Grassland→Bailidujuan→Zhijindong Cave→Guiyang

Scenery along the way:

Yunfeng Tuntou, Huangguoshu Waterfall, Wanfenglin Rapeseed Flower Sea, Maling River Gorge, Wumeng Grassland, Bailidujuan, Zhijindong Cave

This Southwestern Guizhou route boasts two major spring highlights: the rapeseed flower sea in Wanfenglin and the Bailidujuan rhododendron forest in Bijie.

Wanfenglin consists of almost 20,000 peaks and hills, making it one of the top five most beautiful peak forests in China. In spring, it’s blanketed with a sea of rapeseed flowers.

Bailidujuan is China’s largest primeval rhododendron forest. From late March to April, the mountains are covered with rhododendrons for miles and miles.