This is the moment a Chinese driver faces off against a large tiger in the middle of a snowy mountain road.

The close encounter was filmed near the city of Hunchun in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in north-eastern China, bordering with North Korea and Russia.

The motorist, named as Mr Tie, was driving to Hunchun with friends when he encountered a large tiger blocking the mountain road at around 4pm on 20th December.

The tiger and the driver were engaged in a stalemate for a while before the animal eventually gave way and allowed the car to pass.

Mr Tie said they slowly passed the tiger after it gave way and were only about two metres (6.6 feet) away from it at one point, adding that the tiger did not appear aggressive and the car occupants were not scared.

In the footage, the friends are heard laughing in the car after encountering the tiger in the middle of the icy road.

The large animal holds its ground until the driver starts moving slowly forwards.

The tiger steps back and then calmly moves to the side of the road to allow the car to pass.

As the car occupants pass the point where they had seen the big cat, they film the side of the road and the tiger is seen lying in the snow a couple of metres away, staring at them.

They stop the car for a moment to get a last look at the majestic cat before continuing on their way.