SHANGHAI, Sep. 3 -- A MAN in southwestern China was hospitalized with snake poisoning after he bite in revenge for the animal's attack on his lip.

The man, a 41-year-old surnamed Yang living in Chongqing Municipality, was still in critical condition in hospital after he was bit by a grey snake he took home from a trip to Yunzhuan Mountain in Chongqing's Banan District, Chongqing Morning Post reported today.

The snake, which is half meter long, suddenly sprang up from a box and bite Yang on his upper lip while he was taking a close look of the reptile about 4pm on Saturday, the report said.

Yang immediately pulled the snake from his lip and became furious. As revenge, he stripped the skin off of the snake and took several bites of the reptile, the report said.

He soon felt sick so his family sent him to hospital, the report said.

Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the snake Yang has bitten was a toxic one as his face, especially the lips, was swollen.