A cache of more than 100 long-lost photos stored on a second-hand CCD camera has been reunited with its original owner after the camera's buyer tracked him down through images saved on the device.
The buyer, surnamed Zhang from Sichuan province, found the old photos after purchasing the camera on a second-hand marketplace. A doctoral diploma and a 2008 group photo helped her identify the owner as Zhang Qianfan, now a professor at the Harbin Institute of Technology.
After Zhang shared her story online, several people claiming to be the professor's students offered to help. The photos were eventually passed on to him through one of his students.
The professor later confirmed the camera had once belonged to him and thanked the buyer after receiving the photos by email.
In a reply, he said he never expected the photos to be recovered after so many years and that they brought back precious memories. He also wished the buyer success in her studies and career, thanking her for her kindness.