text: A 60-year-old man has flown more than 6,000 miles from Vancouver to Shenzhen, South China and turned himself into a walking billboard in a desperate bid to track down his online 'lover'. Canadian Jake Malone met a woman calling herself 'RiLi' on a social website 11 months ago, who according to her online profile lives in Shenzhen and owns a clothing company. She contacted Mr Malone after becoming divorced and he decided to pay her a visit - but after turning up at her company's address, he discovered the office had been closed for years, reports the People's Daily Online. Bid to find online 'lover': Canadian Jake Malone flew more than 6,000 miles from Vancouver to Shenzhenand turned himself into a walking billboard in a desperate bid to track down a woman he met online . An infatuated Mr Malone, who fell in love with 'RiLi' from a photo she sent him, now wanders the streets of the city, which has a population of ten million, with a sign bearing her picture attached to his torso. Mr Malone claimed it was love at first sight when he saw a photo of 'RiLi', who said her real-life name is Rebecca during their correspondence. Speaking to China Daily, he said: 'She is so beautiful. Her smile is cute and soft. I can tell how innocent her heart is by looking into her eyes. 'That innocence is what attracted me to her.' Mr Malone said the website on which he met 'RiLi' charged 20-30 Yuan (£2-3) to receive and send each email. The pair have sent each other 396 emails in the last 11 months and Mr Malone claims that he has spent more than 11,000 Yuan (£1,100), paying for translators to communicate. He said: 'Translators block out all personal details in the emails. So Rebecca and I can only communicate through the website.' Mr Malone mentioned coming to China to look for 'RiLi' a few times, but she said she feared meeting in person would ruin the relationship. Despite her uncertainty, the Canadian decided to fly to China anyway -  emailing 'RiLi' about his hotel details and arrival times, though these were blocked by translators. Wild goose chase: Mr Malone has not been able to track down the woman, who calls herself 'RiLi', and is unable to contact her after the website they use to communicate was shut down . Unfortunately, the website that the pair met on suddenly shut down when Mr Malone landed in Shenzhen on the April 9 - meaning  his mailbox was not accessible. Rebecca once told Mr Malone that she owns a clothing company that has the same name as her internet alias, 'RiLi'. After tracking down the company's address but finding it had closed down, he started to ask around for his online sweetheart. He arrived at Donghu hotel and the concierge Miss Zhang made him a sign that says 'your Canadian love is looking for you'. Other hotel staff found a telephone number with the limited online information but no one picked up the call. Mr Malone carries the sign around his neck and walks around Luohu KK Mall, a big shopping centre, every day hoping that Rebecca will appear. He said: 'People in Shenzhen are very friendly. They took photos of me and put them online. I am very thankful for that. Love at first sight: Mr Malone, 60, said he fell in love with 'RiLi', aka Rebecca, as soon as he saw her photo . Despite some passers-by warning him that 'RiLi' was just looking for someone to talk to, the romantic is adamant their feelings were mutual. He said: 'No, I believe in her, I can feel from her letters that she loves me.' He says is willing to give up his life in Vancouver and move to China if he finds her. He added to China Daily: 'I am afraid that she will not be able to get used to the Canadian life, but I can adapt to her life in China,' Unperturbed by her lack of English, he says he has always been fascinated with Chinese culture  and visited the country in 1987. Mr Malone is a Buddhist and has been practising Taichi for a long time. He added: 'I can be an English or Taichi teacher since I have been doing that in Vancouver.'
target: Jake Malone, 60, met woman who calls herself 'RiLi' on social website .
  After seeing her photograph the Canadian claims it was love at first sight .
  Flew to  Shenzhen, but can't contact her as social website has shut down .
  So he wanders the streets with her picture and appeal attached to his chest .