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A girl from southern China accidentally left her diary notebook at a tourist hotspot in New Zealand, only for it to become an unofficial guestbook for people from around the world to sign. Six-year-old Zi Handong from Shenzhen went on a family trip to Lake Tekapo with her family in January. On the first page of her blue-coloured diary, she wrote about her experience in Chinese characters and pinyin. “Today, my mum, dad, brother and grandma went on a jet boat. I thought it was one of those shark-shaped jets, but it was a boat with a lot of people on board, and it drove very slowly.” The diary was dated January 31, 2025. The little girl then forgot to take it with her when she left Lake Tekapo. Before long, it was discovered by another Chinese tourist, who wrote on the next page: “I hope you can come back and retrieve it.” The message was replied to by another person on February 3, who said: “I do not think she can.” The diary then became the focus of a relay race, with many intentionally searching for it while visiting the scenic spot. People from China and the rest of the world turned it into an unofficial message board. Some said they enjoyed New Zealand. Some wished little Handong all the best. Some gave best wishes to everyone around the world. One person joked: “You are now entitled to tell your teacher you cannot submit your homework because you have lost it!” A tourist from southwestern China’s Sichuan province left a pen with the notebook with a message inviting people to “spread our love and kindness”. Later, the notebook was protected in a ziplock bag and thoughtfully placed under heavy rocks beneath a wooden stool. As the legend of the diary grew, words and photos circulated on mainland social media, attracting the attention of Zi’s mother, Li Meng. Li said the diary was indeed Zi’s winter holiday homework, but she lost it after just writing one page. She thanked everyone who left messages and said they would “treasure it” if the notebook could be returned to them. In May, a Chinese woman based in Lake Tekapo took the notebook back to China and sent it to the family. “My little girl and our whole family were so excited we almost had it framed,” Li told the New Zealand media outlet, The Press. The incident also sparked a trend with other people leaving notebooks. There are now eight notebooks hidden under rocks, waiting for people to write in them. It has even become a fun treasure-hunting game. Some have expressed a wish that the notebooks be better protected and even collected by institutions. “This is such a beautiful story, like a fairy tale,” one online observer said. Another person who left a note in one of the eight notebooks wrote: “I came to Lake Tekapo by myself today, and met the whole world here.” Li said a Chinese publisher contacted her and expressed their wish to publish a book based on the story. She said: “I am sure when my kids grow up, we will visit New Zealand again.”
