An injured red-crowned crane made daily return visits to its saviour in China.

Footage shows the grateful bird, which is a symbol of longevity and immortality in Chinese mythology, observing its rescuer as he picked vegetables to pickle in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang province, on October 10.

The neighbour who recorded the video said the man's family had treated the crane when they found it with a leg injury. It visited them every day since, with the local preparing food for it to eat in his yard.

The crane was planned to be taken to a nature reserve once it has fully recovered.

The red-crowned crane, also known as the Manchurian crane or Japanese crane, is a large and striking bird so called because of a distinctive red patch on its head. It is revered in various East Asian cultures as a symbol of longevity, happiness, and good fortune.