The tourist was filming in Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella District on April 29 when he was approached by a group of three men who allegedly tried to steal his expensive camera equipment, the South China Morning Post reported.

Reacting swiftly, he placed one of the thieves in a rear naked choke, a martial arts restraint and held him until police arrived.

Footage of the incident, now widely shared on social media, shows the tourist calmly restraining the suspect on the ground as the man struggles to break free, visibly distressed.

Netizens have praised the tourist for his quick thinking and bravery.

“He’s really brave and the pride of Chinese people,” a netizen wrote.

“I want to learn martial arts like him to tackle criminals while traveling abroad,” another wrote.

Following the incident, the tourist shared safety tips for fellow travelers: avoid deserted areas, carry minimal cash, avoid flashy designer items, and set credit cards to require a password for use.

Despite its iconic architecture and coastal beauty, Barcelona has long struggled with petty crime.

The city was named Europe’s “pickpocketing capital” and topped a 2009 TripAdvisor list as the world’s worst city for pickpocketing.

According to Carpe Diem Tours, nearly half of reported crimes in Barcelona in 2023 involved pickpocketing, particularly in tourist-heavy areas.

Spain, the world’s second most visited country last year after France, welcomed a record 17 million foreign tourists in the first three months of 2025, AFP reported.