Shocking photos have emerged of a woman's attempt at leaping off a nine-story building in China.

Sheng Fi had been embroiled in a bitter battle with her sister-in-law before she climbed up onto the roof of the building in Zhanjiang, Southern China, the Daily Mail reports.

Her family, friends and rescue service workers clung to her legs to try and stop her jumping off.

But they were not aware she had earlier smothered and killed her four-year-old nephew and thrown his body from the same spot.

The truth behind her attempt was discovered after her daughter was able to talk her down and she was brought off the ledge.

"She admits she'd thrown the boy's body off the same roof", a police spokesman told local media.

"She will still die now, but by a firing squad for murder."

According to the World Health Organisation, China has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.