Lawrence Camp Trust chairman Dr Jim Ng, of Dunedin, said tourists would start or finish the proposed trail at the Dunedin Chinese Garden and follow it to the goldfields of Lawrence-Tuapeka, along State Highway 8, to the Cromwell Mining Centre, and possibly start or finish at the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement.
The trust wanted to see the trail completed for the Lawrence 150th anniversary celebrations in 2011.
Dr Ng said tourists could start the trail from either Queenstown or Dunedin International Airport.
The Arrowtown Chinese Settlement was already one of the most popular Department of Conservation sites, attracting 70,000 visitors a year, and anything that encouraged visitors to stay an extra night or for an extra meal would complement other activities in the district, he said.
Dr Ng said the proposed trail would point out two other Chinese heritage landmarks in the Arrowtown area.
"Big Beach, at Arthurs Pt, was where modern gold-dredging was pioneered by miner Choie Sew Hoy.
"Miner Hang Long pioneered one of the first commercial tobacco farms in New Zealand almost opposite Coronet Peak."
The proposed trail could encompass other Chinese heritage in Central Otago, including Butchers Dam, near Alexandra, where Chinese market gardener and orchardist Lye Bow toiled for 60 years, and the old mining huts and other artefacts in Roxburgh.
Dr Ng said trustees were gathering stories for the trail and evaluating Chinese mining sites near State Highway 8.
The trail would be another resource which would bring tourists from around the world and cater for the rapidly growing Chinese tourism market.
Tourism consultant Ray Grubb, of Dunedin, said 40 million Chinese travelled overseas in 2008 but only 112,000 came to New Zealand.
Mr Grubb is working with Dr Ng and and former Otago Daily Times editor Robin Charteris on the feasibility study of the Chinese heritage trail.
Dr Ng asked Mr Grubb to join him in approaching Otago Forward, a group of mayors and business leaders, about the Chinese trail concept a year ago.
Otago Forward recommended the concept to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, which approved $70,000 for the feasibility study last August.
A steering committee chaired by Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin and including representatives from all six local authorities the Chinese trail would cross, plus Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie, was established.
Dr Ng, Mr Grubb and Mr Charteris will report back to the committee twice more.
Mr Grubb said stage one of the trio's project - market research conducted by interviewing inbound travel agents, Chinese outbound agents, Air New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand and others to determine their interest in the Chinese heritage trail as a product - had been completed.
The trio's survey of 1000 Chinese, Australian and European tourists was carried out last year at the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement, Dunedin Chinese Garden, Otago Museum and Dunedin I-Site.
The survey gauged visitors' interest in learning more about the Chinese settlers, their lives, culture and stories.
"Overall, the levels were remarkably consistent, showing 78% interest," Mr Grubb said.
"That gives shape with responses we've had from outbound tour operators and now the second stage is to define the product, as in what exactly do we include in a touring route? The third stage would be putting together ideas for interpretation and marketing.
"The focus of this is money. We want to provide a commercial product that will give an excellent return to Otago and New Zealand."
