Backpacker and mother missing in Egypt

Two Chinese tourists visiting Egypt have lost contact with their family, the Beijing News reported.

The last contact was through an Internet phone link on the afternoon of Aug 21.

Shan Na, 31, an experienced backpacker from Liaoning province arrived in Egypt with her mother on July 27.

Shan's father purchased return air tickets for them to Beijing. Their return flight was booked on Aug 24.

On the afternoon of Aug 21, the father talked with his wife and daughter through the Internet and learned they were in Dahab, a town on the Sinai Peninsula.

"They promised to return on time and told me they had bought gifts for me. But since then I have not been able to reach them through their cell phones," the father said.

The flight arrived in Beijing on Aug 25 but they were not on board, he told the Beijing News.

On the evening of Aug 25, he contacted the Chinese embassy in Egypt, which told him a hotel owner in Egypt had reported them missing for several days.

The mother and daughter were least seen as they went out for a walk, the hotelier said.

A number of Chinese people in Egypt volunteered to look for them, but only found their luggage in the hotel.

The Chinese Embassy in Egypt have sent personnel to the Sinai to investigate the case with police. No progress has been made, an employee with the embassy told the Beijing News.