Few years ago, Choumeizai lost his wallet and identity card in Daliang(大連) of China, so he reported to the local police and got a 'certificate' after gone through all kinds of hardships, this little paper saved Choumeizai's life...
The police in China were always difficult to deal with, Choumeizai almost needed to kneel down and cry in order to obtain a so-called 'Certificate of reporting to the police', while the name, identity card no., and the name of the hotel where Choumeizai lived were on it.
Although such 'Certificate of reporting to the police' was only a piece of paper typed and printed by computer, at least it has the chop of the police station, you could book a hotel or transport by this paper without an identity card.
Then, on the train going towards Shenzhen(深圳), Choumeizai was intercepted by a police of Shandong, the police released Choumeizai because of this paper, or else Choumeizai could not see you guys here.