The tidal bore creates a high water wall. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

The Qiantang River tidal bore, also known as Haining tidal bore, is one of the three biggest tides in the world.

The river, originating in the border region of Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, runs 459 kilometers through the coastal Zhejiang province, passing through the provincial capital Hangzhou before flowing into the East China Sea via the Hangzhou Bay.

While the Hangzhou Bay at the mouth of the Qiantang is about 100 km wide, the river narrows to a mere 2-3 km at one point－its Yanguan section. And as the tidal waters are blocked by the narrow river passage, pressure builds up from behind until a tidal bore is formed, creating a high water wall.

In addition, the presence of a submerged sandbar at the mouth of the river acts like a springboard for the tide, sending the crest of the bore higher.

The tidal bore usually appears from the first to the fifth of September and from the 15th to 20th in the eighth month of the lunar calendar. Yanguan scenic area in Haining city is the best place for watching the marvelous tide.

People watch one-line tidal bore of the Qiantang River in Yanguan town of Haining city, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

People watch one-line tidal bore of the Qiantang River in Yanguan town of Haining city, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]