The astonishing video shows a wild macaque rummaging through a woman's rucksack before running across a box of juice and running away.

Smartphone footage recorded in the city of Zhangjiajie, in Hunan, China, depicted the frightened female tourist standing still as the monkey searched through her belongings.

Whilst standing on her shoulder, the macaque can be seen taking several pieces of clothing from the woman's backpack and throwing them on the ground before encountering a juice box.

Astounded by the sight, fellow tourists simply stood captivated as the monkey kept curiously rummaging through the possessions.

Several moments later it took the refreshment drink and jumped on the ground before it ran away towards his monkey pals.

Macaques are a group of Old World monkeys characterised by their robust build, long tails, and cheek pouches.

They are found in different habitats, from forests to rocky areas, all across Asia, Africa, and Gibraltar.

Known for their intelligence, macaques are often subjects in scientific studies, contributing valuable insights into primate behaviour and cognition.

Most macaque species are listed as vulnerable to critically endangered on the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.