At first glance, you might think Tom Cruise is filming a blockbuster nearby as shadowy figures race nimbly across a network of cables in the sky.

But look closer and you will see what you are watching is an urban jungle moment where the local macaque troop makes a monkey of security at a university.

The raiding party – looking for food – was spotted by locals in Liangshan, Sichuan Province, south-western China.

To get into the secure campus compound the macaques simply use their extraordinary treetop skills to swing across power lines leading to the buildings.

A clip of the feat – shared later on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok – shows the group crawling down a network of wires connecting several campus buildings.

One of them almost looks like it is using Mission Impossible star Cruise’s high wire skills to grab one cable with its arms and glide down a second with its feet.

They were filmed by a witness – surnamed Peng – who said that the macaques live at nearby scenic spots, and often enter the town.

Nevertheless – Peng said – it was still a shock to see them so organised.

Douyin user ‘Take you to dig wild vegetables’ said in a comment: “They are the electricians in training.”

Another user – ‘Mei.’ – commented: “This school is pretty good, you can even watch monkeys perform a tightrope walk.”

And user ‘I’m so good’ wrote: “If I was a student at this school, I would be laughing every single day.”