A panda has attacked a student who entered its pen in an attempt to embrace it.

The 20-year-old male student, named Liu, was visiting the Guilin zoo when he decided to try to cuddle the animal. However, the bear was reportedly frightened by the man and attacked him.

"The panda, named Yangyang, was wide awake. Apparently scared by the intruder, he bit at Liu's arms and legs," Xinhua news agency reports.

Liu was taken to hospital after zoo workers managed to prise the bear from him.

"Yangyang was so cute and I just wanted to cuddle him. I didn't expect he would attack," he said.