A group of friends filmed this rare encounter with a wild tiger that kept peeking at them from behind a tall bush by the roadside as they passed by.

One of them, surnamed Zhang, said they were driving up the Shuangya Mountain, in China’s northern Heilongjiang Province, when they spotted the animal lurking by the road.

Phone footage captured by Zhang shows the adult Siberian tiger poking its head out from behind a snowdrift in the bushes.

Zhang and his friends were baffled by its calm demeanour and apparent curiosity at their presence, and could be heard saying: “Come out, come out, let’s shake hands!”

It continued staring at them for several minutes before they finally left.

The Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur tiger, is the largest big cat species and is native to the forests of eastern Russia and parts of China and North Korea.

Recognised by its distinctive orange coat with black stripes, the Siberian tiger has a robust build and powerful limbs.

It is well-adapted to cold climates, with its thick fur coat and a layer of fat for insulation.

These predators are known for their strength, agility, and solitary nature, primarily preying on deer and wild boar in their natural habitats.

The Siberian tiger is listed as ‘endangered’ on the IUCN’s Red List due to habitat loss and poaching.