bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Yating Yang

After TikTok users in the US began flocking to the Chinese social media platform RedNote, a 21-year-old American “TikTok refugee” sought to reconnect with her long-lost Chinese classmate, known only as “Simon”.
With the help of Chinese netizens, she miraculously found him in just 22 hours, amazing many people online.
On January 15, Katharina Celia, 21, who had quickly amassed over 20,000 followers after joining RedNote, posted a heartfelt video seeking help from the Chinese community to reconnect with a Chinese classmate, Simon, whom she had not seen in seven years.
She said that she had attended a private Catholic school in the Midwestern US state of Iowa from 2017 to 2018, during which a Chinese exchange student named Simon joined her class.
Despite becoming best friends, they lost contact soon after he returned to China.

“I need all netizens on this app to find him. Simon I miss you, I miss our friendship,” she said.
RedNote is also known as Xiaohongshu in China, which means “Little Red Book”.
Her video went viral, attracting more than 45,000 likes and 4,000 comments at the time of writing, with many Chinese netizens eager to help the pair reconnect.
Under their suggestions, Celia shared an old photo of Simon, which was eventually seen by someone who knew him. They promptly informed him about the search.
In less than 24 hours, an online viewer claiming to be Simon left a comment under Celia’s video.
“Hello, everyone, I am Simon. I never imagined I would reconnect with my good friend from years ago like this. Thank you so much to everyone on RedNote who helped,” the viewer said.
Simon is currently a designer living in the US.
On January 20, he posted his own video responding to the search and expressing his deep gratitude.
“We are deeply grateful for all the help and attention everyone has given us during this time. We never imagined that we would reconnect through RedNote. I am truly grateful.”
Celia later told Red Star News that she and Simon had a video call on January 16.
“After all these years, we are reconnecting, chatting and reminiscing about old times. Maybe one day, we will meet again here in the US,” she said.
She also said that despite many Chinese netizens humorously encouraging them to “be together,” their relationship was purely platonic.

“I have been using translation apps to read every comment in Chinese,” she said, adding: “Many people wish for us to get together, but for me, this is just a very special friendship.”
The story resonated online.
One person said: “It is funny how they are both living in the US, but they needed a Chinese app and Chinese netizens to find each other!”
“Mission accomplished! Celia’s story of friendship is so touching!” said another.
While a third wrote: “Moments like this really make the world feel like a small village. These ordinary yet extraordinary stories happen every day.”


China netizens help US RedNote user find long-lost Chinese classmate in 22 hours

China student honoured for carrying classmate on his back to safety during quake

China flight attendant quits job, becomes pig farmer, earns US$28,000 in 2 months

China teacher uses AI to make professional portraits, inspires pupils to chase dreams

Trending in China

Netizens in China have helped a RedNote user in the US reconnect with a long-lost Chinese classmate in just 22 hours. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote

Katharina Celia reached out with a heartfelt posting on the Chinese social media app. Photo: RedNote

In less than 24 hours, the 21-year-old had reconnected with her Chinese friend. Photo: RedNote

Kindergarten kids in China who played husband and wife at school tie knot 20 years later

A couple in China who played husband and wife at kindergarten have tied the knot for real 20 years later. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Young love: The couple are pictured together in their kindergarten days. Photo: Douyin

Real deal: The young lovers get married and spread happiness across social media. Photo: Douyin

A former flight attendant who quit her job to become a pig farmer in her hometown has earned US$28,000 in just two months. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo

Yang Yanxi quit her airline job to be closer to her family in rural China. Photo: Weibo

Yang says that after a long day down on the farm she smells “stinky”. Photo: Weibo

Different worlds: Yang has leveraged her life-changing move on social media, attracting a huge following online. Photo: Weibo

A primary school teacher in China is using artificial intelligence technology to create professional portraits of her students in the hope of inspiring them to chase their dreams. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

One youngster, with his teacher, aspires to be a soldier, while another hopes to graduate from a top university. Photo: Jim News

Love all: This student is delighted with the artificial intelligence technology generated portrait of him as a tennis star. Photo: Jim News

Taiwan teacher sues for emotional distress after rival sends funeral wreaths to her at new job

A teacher in Taiwan has sued a rival educator for emotional distress after she was sent funeral wreaths at her new place of work. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/ettoday.net

The wreaths were lined up outside the school where the “distressed” teacher was starting a new job. Photo: social media

A court in Taiwan ruled that funeral flower arrangements were not illegal. Photo: social media

Playful China cat sends resignation letter, loses owner job, Thai dog brings home bomb

A playful Chinese cat accidentally sends a resignation letter and a Thai dog brings home a bomb. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The curious cat caused keystroke chaos leaving its owner out of work. Photo: Shutterstock

The dog thought the suspect device was just another ball to brings home. Photo: Thairath

News

People & Culture

Online observers of ‘miraculous’ reunion hint at romantic link-up between pair but US woman insists relationship is purely platonic


Online observers of ‘miraculous’ reunion hint at romantic link-up between pair but US woman insists relationship is purely platonic.


RedNote

TikTok