Girl to learn Mandarin on China volunteering trip

A Hertfordshire student will travel to China next year, to learn Mandarin and undertake voluntary work with an environmental conservation group.

Victoria Hodges, 17, has signed up to a project starting in July 2012, on which she will have language lessons before volunteering as a teacher herself, the Hertfordshire Mercury reports.

The former Hitchin Girls School pupil was encouraged to embark on a mini gap year after attending talks at her school about voluntary work options.

"It seemed like a great opportunity. I would have the experience of going on a gap year but I don't have to miss a whole year," she told the newspaper.

Victoria will be based in the north-eastern city of Yantai for her month-long learning and voluntary work experience.

Last month, Tom Hall, travel editor at Lonely Planet, said gap year destinations in Asia would most likely prove popular with Brits next year.

He explained that as UK travellers seek value for money, the relatively low cost of living in south-east Asia would make it a first choice for many.

See the different gap year destinations on offer