China boy, 11, runs away after quarrel with parents leaving note he wants to ‘experience hardship’ for 3 days, found in shopping mall by police
- Public surveillance footage shows boy carrying bedsheet while taking subway
- Boy’s goodbye note to parents amuses many on social media with one saying ‘he is quite brave and independent-minded’
A runaway boy in China sparked debate about the academic pressures facing children after his goodbye note to his parents went viral on mainland social media.
The 11-year-old from Shanghai ran away from home after arguing with his parents about homework. He left a note before fleeing in the middle of the night, Chinese media reported on September 20.
“Dear dad and mum, I am going out for a few days (at most three) to experience the hardship of the outside world and learn the difficulty of life,” the unidentified boy wrote in the letter.
He promised his parents that he would catch up on missed schoolwork after he returned and said he had hidden his phone at home. His parents called the police the next morning.
According to public video surveillance footage, the boy carried a bedsheet while taking the subway. He ended up at a shopping mall, where police officers found him the day after he ran away.
A police officer, surnamed Wu, said the boy left home after arguing with his parents over homework.
The boy’s note amused many on social media.
“He is quite a brave and independent-minded boy,” said one person on Weibo.
