Tourists Admire China’s Security as Backpack Full of Valuables Goes Untouched
What would happen if you left a bag full of valuable items in a crowded place? In some countries, those goods might disappear immediately. But a different scenario unfolded in China. A YouTuber, Jannelize Bessenger, conducted this experiment in one of the busiest areas in China. Through the channel ‘Because I’m Lizzy’, she left her bag in Chongqing.
Upon returning to the spot where she left the bag, she found all of her belongings still in place. Not a single item had moved or disappeared.
‘I have proven many times that no item will be stolen. Security is the main reason I remain in China,’ Bessenger said, reported by Xinhua, on Wednesday (20 May 2026).
Bessenger currently lives in Kunming, Yunnan Province. The South African content creator has been based in China for seven years. For her, security is among the reasons she has grown at ease living in China.
According to Bessenger, the main safety factor is not just about the authorities. ‘The people who live here and the values and respect for life they uphold are what make China the safest place I will have lived for many years,’ she explained.
Bessenger recalls her experience in 2019. At that time, she had only been in China for four months and suddenly fell seriously ill in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. She had already saved the hospital’s location on her phone, but she still became lost and could not find it. She was not fluent in Mandarin at the time.
Bessenger eventually asked a local resident for help. The man used a translation app on his phone, then escorted her to the hospital by metro. Upon arriving at the hospital, the man left without asking for her phone contact or any compensation.
When sleep was hard around 11 pm, Bessenger walked with her earphones in, listening to music without worry. She enjoys exploring new places without needing a map.
The appeal of safety is also said to be driving a surge in short-term tourism. In 2025, foreign visitors to China reached about 150 million, increasing more than 17 percent year on year. Moreover, more than 30 million foreign tourists entered under a visa-free policy.