A Guangzhou taxi driver has earned praise for his honesty after returning a whopping 170,000 yuan ($24,000) accidentally transferred to his account by a drowsy passenger.

Du Lipeng picked up the seemingly intoxicated woman early morning on Dec 14 from the city's central business district. She remained asleep throughout the journey and paid the fare online through Alipay before disembarking.

Later, during his break, Du discovered the staggering 170,000 yuan overpayment in his account. Believing it to be the woman's mistake, he took immediate action.

He reported the incident to the police and his company, seeking help in returning the money. Du also left his contact details on the Alipay transaction and notified customer service to facilitate tracing the owner.

His efforts paid off when the woman, identified and verified, contacted the taxi company Tuesday evening. The excess fare was swiftly returned to her on Wednesday.