Posted 14 Jan 2010

Although taking a gap year abroad is the chance of a lifetime, it is important to practise responsible travel so that the places you visit are left unharmed.

This is the message conveyed by travel magazine Wanderlust, which this week published its list of the ten spots most under threat from tourism and changing landscapes.

Coming in second on the list is Yangshuo in the south-west of China, a picturesque region 800 km from Hong Kong that used to be known as the idyllic alternative to nearby tourist town Guilin.

However, it was thrust into the spotlight when it became known for its breathtaking limestone-flecked scenery and carefree cafe culture.

"Now the town attracts more than three million visitors a year – more than it can easily sustain," the magazine stated.

However, there are steps those on a gap year in China can take to ensure their visit does not have a detrimental effect on the locale, it added.

These include hiring a bicycle and pedalling through the nearby hamlets, hiking through the mountains or rock-climbing, rather than using too much transport.

Category: Asia