Concerns for Ling Yaping’s welfare raised after she failed to return to her hotel
Serious concerns have been raised about Chinese tourist Ling Yaping’s welfare after the 45-year-old failed to return to her Parkville hotel in December.
Police & Courts
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Police are probing the mysterious disappearance of a married Chinese national on a solo trip in Melbourne.
Tourist Ling Yaping, 45, vanished without a trace after walking from her hotel with a black backpack filled with about $2000 cash late on Monday, December 23.
She had landed in Melbourne a day earlier to join a Chinese bus tour.
Police say her roommate at the Quality Hotel in Parkville reported her missing when she failed to return to the room or collect her luggage.
The tourist group spent the day at the Great Ocean Road before returning to the hotel.
But Ms Yaping left the hotel on her own some time after 10pm and did not tell anyone why.
Police hold serious concerns for her welfare and are hunting for clues to find her.
North West Metro Region Constable Andrew Wenhlowskyj said there was no intelligence to suggest the tourist intended to go missing.
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Her passport has been flagged at airports but no travel attempts had been made, he said.
The Chinese consulate in Melbourne is assisting with the investigation and a request has been made to enable access to her bank accounts.
Local police cannot access these accounts without consular assistance as she is not an Australian resident.
Little is known about Ms Yaping, who does not speak English or have friends or family in Australia.
Her husband lives in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province. He is co-operating with the consulate over his wife’s disappearance.
Ms Yaping arrived in Sydney on December 21 before flying to Melbourne.
The group visited the Great Ocean Road on December 23, the last time Ms Yaping was seen.
Anyone with information about her is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.