The Tibetan macaques are frequent visitors to a feeding place where a patrol team member drops food for them in the Dagu Glacier Scenic Area. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]

The Tibetan macaques blast toward the confetti of corn kernels flying from Zheng Yungui's fingertips like an explosion chasing sparks.

The primates screech and lunge to snap up the food. Babies cling to mother's bellies.

The 45-year-old staffer of the Dagu Glacier Scenic Area is better known by his local nickname, "the monkey king", referencing the Journey to the West, known as one of China's "four great novels".

He has been feeding Dagu's monkeys for over a decade.

"They're old friends," he says.

"They never harm me or others. Interacting with them has become an important part of my life."