When vacationing abroad, tread carefully

[Photo provided to China Daily]

"They are like a code of conduct to help travelers to avoid improper behavior," says Zhang.

"Don't take anything away except your photos, don't leave anything there except your footprints," is the fundamental principle, he says.

The project is supported by the World Wildlife Fund, TRAFFIC - the wildlife trade monitoring network and the Forest Stewardship Council.

Wang Lei, forest program manager at WWF's Beijing office, says the conservation organization is working closely with tourism operators on public awareness of forest protection.

Li Chenyang, project manager of TRAFFIC, says: "Sustainable travel is very important. Tourists should be informed which souvenirs or wildlife products violate international laws and contribute to the loss of local species or habitats."