KUNMING, Jan. 9 -- A man taken hostage by a knife-wielding suspect was rescued unharmed by police in southwest China's Yunnan Province, local police said Thursday.

Patrolling police caught the suspect surnamed Zheng stealing a mountain bike near a shop door in Kunming City, the provincial capital, at 11 a.m..

Zheng ran away and took a construction worker hostage with a knife at a hotel. He forced the worker into an electric vehicle shop.

After failing to persuade the suspect to surrender, police acted and rescued the hostage and captured Zheng.

The case is still being investigated.