A young man managed to save his partner from falling to her death by grabbing her ankle after the couple plunged off a cliff edge while trying to jump a queue on a popular mountain scenic spot.

The incident happened at Mount Tai in Tai'an, a city in China's eastern Shandong province, during the final days of the May Day public holiday.

Footage shared by netizens shows the couple climbing over a guardrail in the dark before trying to scramble down a rocky ledge to avoid a crowded stairway packed with tourists eager to catch the sunrise.

Witnesses say the pair had initially waited patiently, but as the crowd grew denser, they decided to scale the low safety barrier and attempt to bypass the congestion.

The man, dressed in red, climbed down first and turned to help the woman following him.

But as she attempted to descend, she lost her footing and the man also slipped.

Two tourists fall while trying to climb over wall on Mount Tai in Shandong province, China. The footage emerged on 5 May, 2025. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(AsiaWire/NX)

They both toppled into a narrow gully, but the man caught hold of a safety wire and managed to grab the woman's leg, stopping her fall just in time.

Bystanders shouted in alarm as the woman dangled precariously.

Others rushed to help, but the couple eventually managed to pull themselves back to safety without major injuries.

Two tourists fall while trying to climb over wall on Mount Tai in Shandong province, China. The footage emerged on 5 May, 2025. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(AsiaWire/NX)

Surveillance footage and mobile phone videos of the near-tragedy went viral online, prompting widespread discussion.

According to Mount Tai Scenic Area staff, security personnel on the scene had warned tourists not to climb the barriers.

They pledged to strengthen patrols and safety monitoring, especially during peak holiday periods.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)