‘Don’t touch me’: Chinese policewoman praised for professionally handling tourist who puts arm around her for photo

A police officer in Shanghai has drawn praise online after firmly but politely telling a foreign tourist not to touch her while they posed for a photo.

The encounter took place at the Bund during China’s National Day holiday, according to Sing Tao Headline.

The officer was identified as Qian Xueying, a member of Shanghai’s special police unit.

Agreed to photo, declined physical contact

In videos circulating on the Chinese social media platform Douyin, a tourist can be seen approaching Qian while she was on duty to ask if he could take a photo with her.

She agreed, but while they were posing, he placed his arm around her shoulders.

Qian stepped slightly away and politely said: “Don’t touch me.”

The tourist can be seen pulling back his arm.

Qian then continued posing for the photo.

After the photo was taken, the two thanked each other and the tourist left.

Praised for setting boundaries

The video drew praise online, with commenters commending Qian for remaining courteous while making her boundaries clear.

Several highlighted her composure and measured response to the tourist’s gesture. Others praised her for being gracious and principled, expressing support for her decision to draw the line at physical contact.

Former sprinter

Qian was an athlete before becoming a police officer.

According to a June 2025 profile published on The Paper’s Pengpaihao platform, she and her teammates won silver in the women’s 4x100m relay at China’s national athletics championships in 2019.

She now serves in the Shanghai Public Security Bureau’s special police unit.

After joining the police, she placed first in the obstacle event at a Shanghai special police skills competition and earned recognition as an exemplary officer.

HK01 reported that she had previously attracted attention online, with foreign tourists often queuing to take photos with her.