Lao Pan, was an unmarried man without much family, lived with his dog in Panjiatun village near Qingdao city, Shandong Province. When the 68-year old man passed away recently, his close companion steadfastly refused to leave his side, guarding his grave day and night.

The loyal dog sat by his grave, going a week without food. Concerned villagers tried to take the dog back to the village to feed him, giving him some buns. The dog took the buns and returned to the graveyard. Villagers were so moved, that they built a kennel for him and left food and water for him at the gravesite.

• loyalty