He was still excited about the trip: "I enjoyed the feeling that I controlled the travel and routes instead of following other people."
Cao Longbo found it easy to rent a car when he arrived in the U.S.. "Airports have a host of car rental companies for tourists to choose from," said the 37-year-old software engineer, who traveled around the U.S. by car in 2013. "Visitors can rent a car with a credit card, and it's a good idea to rent GPS or download a map before the journey, even if it's a little more expensive."
Song Qianqian is also a road trip enthusiast. "I want to set my own pace and see scenery or cultures I'm interested in," said the 31-year-old who studied in the U.S. before returning to China to work for a financial company in Beijing.
During her study period, Song drove to several cities, such as Orlando, Atlanta and Maryland. Her most memorable U.S. driving experience was a 17-hour journey from Austin to Phoenix, crossing three states.
"Young For You, a song by Gala, played again and again on my car's tape player, while trees, deserts and cactuses passed by. It was really fantastic," she said.
"When I was tired at night, I stopped the car and climbed onto the roof. Lying on my back and looking at stars quickly made me forget my driver's fatigue."
Song believes self-driving tours will become an increasingly important contributor to Sino-U.S. tourism, especially among young people and those seeking adventure. She said visitors can enhance their experience by relying on well-planned routes and good understanding of the strict U.S. traffic rules: "If not, you may find yourself in trouble."
Driving safe
Beijing resident Wang Yifei has been on two self-driving trips in the U.S.. She stressed the importance of understanding the rules of the road.
"Although traffic rules are much the same all over the world, minor differences are very important because they mainly relate to safety," she said, adding that Chinese drivers must learn to be patient in traffic jams and should always adhere to the prescribed speed limits.
Wang was pulled over by the police for a traffic violation in Yosemite National Park. "I used a safety lane to overtake a car in front of me that I thought was moving too slowly. As I passed the slower vehicle, a police car sounded its alarm and I was pulled over. I had no idea about the traffic laws in the U.S. and the police officer criticized me severely. Luckily, I wasn't fined," she said.
Differences in etiquette may also confuse Chinese drivers. Liu Jing was asked to pay $120 because he failed to wash and refuel his car before returning it to the rental agency.
"You can rent a car when you get off the plane, and some agencies even provide services in Chinese. But washing and refueling the car before returning it is a must - it's an unbreakable rule," he said. To avoid unnecessary problems, Liu suggested tourists pay close attention to every requirement for car rental under U.S. traffic law.
>> Helpful hints for foreign motorists in the U.S.
He called for Chinese car rental agencies to offer information to customers about the laws and related regulations in different states.
"In China, drivers just slow down when they see a stop sign, but in the U.S. the sign means 'full stop'. If you disobey and fail to stop, you'll face a heavy fine, at the very least," he said. "Learn the rules and stay safe."
