Chinese teen who disappeared while touring California colleges found safe

The Chinese teenager who disappeared Friday after walking away from his hotel room in Claremont has been found safe.

Jin Wuwei, 16, was found by sheriff’s deputies near Sunset Boulevard and Sherbourne Drive in West Hollywood about noon Monday, Sgt. Deryl Walker said.

Jin’s vanishing did not appear to be the work of foul play, he said. No other details were immediately available.

Jin came from Beijing with his mother to tour colleges. Since Feb. 11, they had been staying at a room in the Claremont Lodge, according to the Claremont Police Department.

He had last been seen about 12:40 p.m. Friday after he voluntarily walked away from the hotel.

Not long after he disappeared, his mother reported him missing to police.

Speaking in Mandarin, Jin’s mother told KCBS-TV Channel 2 that she and her son had been touring California colleges. But, on Friday, she said he insisted on visiting Claremont alone while she shopped.

His mother told the news station it seemed like her son didn’t want her to go with him, like he was hiding something. She said he had been buying items and secreting them away from her.

But he had only a small amount of money and had not used his credit card -- or his cellphone -- since he disappeared, KCBS-TV reported.

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA and @josephserna on Twitter.