A Chinese woman reportedly fainted in shock after dropping and breaking a bracelet worth £34,000.

The tourist was trying the jewelry on in a shop in the southern city of Ruili in Yunnan province near the border with Burma, when staff told her how much it cost.

In her haste to remove it she dropped it, watching in horror as it hit the floor and broke in half, the BBC reported.

Although staff tried to calm her down, she began sweating and fainted, the broadcaster reported.

Several customers came to help her, the People's Daily newspaper reported. They roused her by pinching her lip.

Medical staff were also called but the unnamed woman was unhurt.

After she came around, she was offered a reduced price of about £19,300 ($25,000) to settle the breakage.

But she told shop staff she could only afford to pay £1,100 ($1,500).