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Chinese woman uses her scarf to clean spilled tea, video sparks conversation on civic sense: ‘In India, it would be opposite’

The video of the Chinese woman has since gone viral, with many users comparing the gesture to that of Indians, sparking a conversation on civic sense and public decency.

3 min readNew DelhiDec 15, 2025 12:03 PM IST

When tissues do not help, she removes her scarf and uses it to absorb the remaining liquid, making sure the floor is clean (Image source: @indiebuzzofficial/Instagram)

A passenger on a subway in China’s Suzhou city has been widely applauded after she used her scarf to clean a beverage that she accidentally spilled near the seats.

In a viral video, the woman can be seen boarding a train while holding a cup of bubble tea. As she steps into the carriage, the drink slips from her hand, and spills across the floor. She immediately crouches, and tries to mop it up with tissues.

When tissues do not help, she removes her scarf and uses it to absorb the remaining liquid, making sure the floor is clean. Nearby passengers watch as she finishes cleaning up the mess.

Watch here:

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The video has since gone viral, with many users comparing the gesture to that of Indians, sparking a conversation on civic sense and public decency.

“People travelling in Delhi metro is saying this is AI,” a user wrote. “Imagine if this was India!!!” another user commented, adding that, “Not only they will leave dirty but might throw that cup on the train also. Been seeing these people abroad with no civic sense.”

“In India it would be the opposite. That is why China is the future & India is,” a third user reacted.

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According to The Times of India, Suzhou Metro staff later identified the woman and invited her back to present her with a replacement scarf and a small gift as a token of appreciation.

Recently, a video of a Russian traveller cleaning trash during her trek to Chandrashila in Uttarakhand surfaced on social media, sparking a backlash over a lack of civic sense in India. In the viral clip, the woman can be seen holding a bag filled with trash.

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“I went for this trekking today from the morning to Chandrashila. It is an amazing place. I love it. I love nature. I love this country. I love to travel here. But one thing which makes me sad is the garbage. And always when I am travelling, I prefer to make some small efforts, which I can do,” she says in the video.