This is the adorable moment a toddler walked alongside a group of penguins in China.

The three-year-old girl playfully interacted with emperor penguins in Liaoning on February 5.

Heartwarming footage shows the child, clad in a black puffer jacket and fluffy white earmuffs, waddling behind the birds, mimicking their walk through the snowy landscape.

She can be seen laughing and smiling as she stands close to the animals.

At one point, a penguin nearly struck the child with its flippers, but her quick-thinking father gently pulled her away just in time.

Her parents said: 'It was her first time seeing penguins, and throughout the encounter, we supervised her.'

Emperor penguins are not known to be aggressive toward humans. They usually continue their activities undisturbed, even when people are nearby.

However, like any animal, they may defend themselves if they feel threatened.