US tourist leaves laptop on a park bench in China, finds it untouched three days later

Misplacing a laptop while travelling is the sort of mistake that usually ends in panic and often, a replacement bill. For one American tourist visiting China’s Yunnan province, however, it ended with a lesson in honesty.

The traveller accidentally left a laptop on a park bench in Hekou in March. Instead of disappearing within minutes, the device remained exactly where it had been left for three days, with CCTV footage showing passers-by simply walking past it.

It was only after local resident Li noticed the unattended laptop that it was picked up, not to keep, but to hand over to the police. Officers later confirmed the device belonged to the US tourist and returned it to its relieved owner.

A video that has since surfaced online captures the tourist thanking the officers after getting the laptop back.

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“Very special that the people are honest and don’t steal things. You help the system operate and keep the civilisation civil and honest. Thank you so much,” he says before shaking hands with the police.

His gratitude did not end there.

The tourist had arrived at the police station carrying a traditional Chinese thank-you banner, a gesture often used to recognise acts of kindness and public service.The heartwarming episode has since found a wide audience online, with many social media users applauding both the local resident’s honesty and the swift action of the police.

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