How to get the skeletons of fonts?

Question

Eh..So now I'd like to re-stroke a character.I don't know how to name this operation.Just as following my manual work.
Step 1.Draw the skeletons of each character.That's not quite difficult with simple characters.But how can that be done effiently and accurately when it comes to complex ones? I type a Chinese character and turn it into outline.However I've no idea how to get the skeletons (as showing in the part 2)with some commands or tools.So..I did it with pen tool manually.oh...Quite poor working!
Step 2.Well,this is not a barrier.Just select new strokes and apply them to the skeletons.
What I wanna ask for your kind help is how to get the character's skeletons with some proffesional operations,but not just munual draw.

Answer 1

WhiteBrown,
Once again, at least for some typefaces you may get at least some of the way by using one step Blend magic, setting the Object>Blend>Blend Options to 1 step and Align to Path:
0) Type>Create Outlines, Object>Ungroup, Object>Compound Path>Release, and switch from Fill to Stroke in the Toolbox,
Then select each lettershape and:
1) If needed cut it with the Scissors Tool at suitable Anchor Points (or elsewhere) to get the most obvious pairs of opposite strokes,
For each pair of opposite strokes:
2) Add new Anchor Points with the Add Anchor Point Tool if/where needed so the two opposite strokes have matching pairs of Anchor Points (same number, each pair placed opposite toeach other),
3) Select both paths and Object>Blend>Make,
If nothing happens, or if it looks wrong (or not quite right) after 3),
4) Select one of the paths and reverse it,
5) Select both paths and Object>Blend>Make,
If your version does not include reversal of paths, you may use the  free Reverse script which may be downloaded here (some other nice  scripts, too):
http://park12.wakwak.com/~shp/lc/et/en_aics_script.html
After that,
6) Object>Blend>Expand, Object>Ungroup, and hide the opposite strokes is desired.
After that you may adjust, add parts, and join parts as needed, if needed.
Lastly, you may delete unwanted parts (keep them for reference until you are sure.
You will discover further details and ways when working with it.
A very simple case is a D in Helvetica (or similar sans serif) where you only need 0) and 3).
A rather simple case is an I in Helvetica (or similar sans serif) where you need 0), 1) (cutting at the corners), 4), and 5).
A somewhat funny case is a D in New Baskerville (or similar serif) just using 0) and 3).