However, these
spectators unwittingly became part of the show when a huge tidal bore
burst through a dam and spilled over the riverbank, sweeping scores of
tourists off their feet.
One moment these bystanders stood
transfixed at the banks of the Qiantang River in Haining, in east
China's Zhejiang province, waiting to witness the natural phenomenon.
Panic: Tourists flee as the ridal bore breaks through the dam by the Qiantang River in Haining, east China's Zhejiang province
Tidal wave: Spectators scatter as the water crashes over them in one of Mother Nature's more unusual phenomena
Swept
away: Police try valiantly to protect the crowds from the tidal surge,
including women and children, but the sheer weight and speed of the
water carries off everyone in its path
The next they
were running for their lives as a huge wave came crashing towards them,
engulfing the crowds while others looked on helplessly.
While
there were no fatalities, more than 20 people weran annual tradition for
residents nearby, attracting hundreds of visitors each year.
The
astonishing natural phenomenon, which is an abrupt uprising of river
water, happens when the moon's gravity influence tides from the sea,
moving them upstream, resulting in the mesmerising bore.
Frenzy: The water engulfs the tourists, knocking some off their feet while others can only look on in horror
Wounded:
The injured are carried away from the scene after the tidal bore
crashed through a dam and swept through a crowd of spectators
Stretchered
away: A woman is carried from the scene after the bore broke the banks
of the river. More than 20 people were injured by the rogue wave, with
many needing to be carried away for treatment
More than 20 people were injured by the rogue wave, with many needing to be carried away for treatment.
Despite
the authorities warning onlookers to stand back from the river bank,
many fail to heed the advice and end up trying to out-run the wave when
it heads towards them.
Bores only occur in a few locations
throughout the world, usually in areas with a large tidal range and
where incoming tides are funnelled into a shallow, narrowing lake or
river.
China's Qiantang River boasts the largest bore, up nine metres - or 30 feet high - and travelling up to 25mph.
Awesome
power: Debris flies into the air after the water, which travels at
speeds of up to 25mph, slams into the bank of the river. Many spectators
are already beginning to panic
Swamped:
The owners of this van may be having to hitch a ride home with someone
else, after the river waters flow over the protective dam and engulf the
vehicle 
Standing
her ground: A Chinese television news reporter, keen to get the best
possible location for her piece to camera, is unaware of the huge wave
behind her. Thankfully, she was not injured
The annual
event is becoming a bit of a headache for authorities, who each year
tell spectators to keep their distance from the tidal surge.
But,
each year, daredevils and unsuspecting spectators stray too close to the
river's edge, erroneously thinking they can outrun the wall of water.
In September 2008 a group of American surfers convinced the Chinese government to allow them to surf a section of the river.
Personal watercraft were used to safely transport the surfers in and out of the tidal bore.
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