From the pyramids of Egypt to London's Big Ben, Chinese tourists are turning middle school textbooks into a viral global "treasure hunt," hiding and finding them at iconic landmarks in a trend that blends nostalgia with a distinctly Chinese sense of connection.
At sites including the Great Pyramid of Giza, Big Ben and Australia's Twelve Apostles, travelers have been leaving behind textbooks featuring those very landmarks on their covers. After taking photos, they tuck the books into hidden corners for the next Chinese visitor to find, creating what online users have dubbed a "global relay."
A history textbook is found at the Great Pyramid of Giza
A traveler who goes by "Xiao Jiayu" said she followed online clues to a hidden spot near the pyramids and pulled a ninth-grade history textbook from a small hole in the stone, Shangyou News reported yesterday.
"Basically, every hole has one — all left by Chinese visitors," she said. "Even though I don't know who left it, the moment I took it out and took a photo, it felt incredibly meaningful."
In London, a 28-year-old overseas Chinese visitor known as "Moon" retraced online guides around Big Ben and found multiple textbooks tucked into narrow gaps near public fixtures. "I found six books in one morning," she said. "It's not just about finding them — it's the messages inside that stay with you."
One note she saw read: "Travel thousands of miles from home, and make sure to keep striving." She said the line instantly brought back memories of studying abroad alone.
A Chinese tourist posts that she found four textbooks around Big Ben.
Participants say the experience goes beyond a simple game. Many describe a sense of emotional connection when discovering a book left by a stranger — often accompanied by handwritten notes or postcards. Messages range from encouragement to reflections on studying abroad, resonating with a generation that grew up seeing these destinations only in textbooks.
The trend gained traction on Chinese social media in recent weeks, with travelers sharing guides on where to find the hidden books — from gaps near phone booths to corners behind public fixtures — and documenting their finds.
An English textbook featuring Australia's Twelve Apostles
Some participants have gone a step further, replacing worn-out books with new ones or adding waterproof covers and pens for future visitors. Others left behind instant photos or personal messages, continuing the chain.
For many, the activity carries symbolic meaning. What once existed only on classroom pages has become a real-world journey, linking past and present. As one widely shared comment put it: English may be the tool to reach these places, but Chinese is what connects those who meet there.