This is the impressive moment a smart chimpanzee returned a tourist's phone in China.

Dongdong, the primate, witnessed the white device fall into his enclosure at Xixiakou Zoo in Weihai, Shandong, China, on July 13.

Footage shows the animal grabbing the mobile and placing it inside the basket that the guests had lowered with a rope.

Its heartwarming behaviour prompted the onlookers to cheer in awe at its actions.

Chimpanzee are known to be highly intelligent creatures with impressive cognitive skills. Their social skills, problem-solving abilities, and capacity for emotion have made them one of the most-studied creatures in the world - with many researchers finding close similarities with humans.