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Spectacular back-flow tidal bores seen in Qiantang River tide
Updated 23:29, 02-Oct-2023
CGTN
00:57

Tremendous and spectacular back-flow tidal bores were created after the Qiantang River tidal bores hit Laoyancang Dam, an old dam in Haining City, east China's Zhejiang Province.

The Qiantang River tide is one of the world's three strongest tidal event locations, along with the Amazon in South America and the Ganges in India. The best location for back-low tidal bores watching is in Laoyancang Dam.

After the tide rushed to the 660-meter-long dam, the water created meters high of waves and turned back in the direction they came from.

"Generally speaking, when one-line bore rushed into a subject, mountain, dam or another bore, it will produce back-flow tidal bores," said Xu Youcheng, the chairman of the Qiantang River Tidal Bore Research Association.

And what amazed the tide chaser most is "soar skyward" bore.

When the tide is rushing to the dam, it suddenly becomes a lion springing, creating numerous waves which are two to three or even 10 meters high. At the same time, the tide turns its direction, running to the bank with an extraordinary roar of anger, scaring onlookers away from the bank.

"When the tide touched the seawall or a relative closed area, some water will be blocked, like being captured by a net, and the water will splash upward. If the water soared skyward, the tide can be called 'soar skyward' bore," said Xu.

Every year, around the Mid-Autumn Festival, or the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, the Qiantang River tidal bore culminates and becomes a great attraction for sightseeing on the 18th day of the eighth lunar month.

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