A man in north-eastern China was startled by a carp turning itself over inside the hot pan it was being cooked in.

The man, named Mr Li in local media in Tonghua, Jilin Province, said the confusing event took place while he was attempting to make dinner for the Chinese New Year.

But preparing the braised carp had quite literally a few twists and turns.

In a video that Mr Li shared on Douyin – China’s TikTok – the small fish can be seen jumping inside the pan and turning over.

What is even more astonishing is that it can be seen that the fish has been pre-gutted, and has likely been out of the water for a longer time.

But the way it moves in the pan makes it seem more alive than ever.

Mr Li said his mother had spent a long time washing and preparing the carp before cooking.

He assumed all the tossing may be some kind of reflexive response, not so often seen with gutted fish.

Mr Li also joked that the carp might have been trying to help properly braise itself.

Online user ‘Qi Qi’ said: “Those who comment must clearly see that this fish has been processed and is already dead. The reason for it turning back and forth in the pot is because its nerves are not completely dead, and it jumps when it is heated.”