A tourist has died at one of China's most sacred sights when he fell to his death while playing on his mobile phone.

The man his 20s was outside a famous Buddhist temple know as Flesh Palace at Mounth Jiuhua and had taken a seat on a bench to have a rest.

He was sat looking at his phone when he absentmindedly leant back, not realising there was no back on the seat and he went tumbling back over the edge

Security footage at the popular scenic spot in the east of the country captured the moment the young man fell more than 25ft.

He falls onto a stone staircase, with his body flashing in front of the camera for a split second.

The man fell off the cliff
He had been at the tourist spot with his father
He fell 25ft to his death

Two women resting below can then be seen fleeing the area as the young man rolls down the steps towards them.

According to staff at the scenic spot, the man had been accompanied by his father, and the pair climbed the steps to the Flesh Palace to pray to the Buddhist gods.

The victim decided to rest on the waist-high fence, which was installed to prevent tourists from accidentally falling down the cliff, and began playing on his mobile phone.

Chinese media suggested the man was "too absorbed" by his smartphone and forgot that he had nothing to lean his back on, shifting his weight behind him and ultimately tumbling off the cliff.

Mount Jiuhua is one of China's four sacred mountains of Buddhism together with mountains Wutai, Emei and Putuo.