London - A Chinese backpacker who tried to report to police that his wallet had been stolen was locked up in a centre for refugees by mistake.
The 31-year-old tourist was looking for a police station in Stuttgart, southern Germany, but ended up at a municipal office that handles asylum applications.
The man, who speaks neither German nor English, was handed a form which he signed without realising it was an application for asylum.
His passport was taken away and he was sent to a shelter for refugees in Dortmund, where he was held for nearly two weeks. German media said the tourist had his fingerprints taken and underwent a medical examination without protest. He even accepted pocket money.
Staff eventually noticed that the man was unusually well-dressed for an asylum seeker and, fearing a mistake had been made, sought help at a local Chinese restaurant.
Using a Mandarin translation app, they found that the man did not need asylum but wanted to continue his European walking tour. He has now set off for France and Italy.
Daily Mail