The remarkable natural phenomenon of "tidal trees" in the Qiantang River in east China, a waterway famous for having the world's largest tidal bore, has entered the best viewing season in March with spectacular patterns.

As tidal flats of the Qiantang River estuary are at their largest in the year, spectators are presented with the grandest sight of "tidal trees", a remarkable natural phenomenon formed from receding tides.
Naturally carved on sands, tidal trees sometimes emerge in forms beyond the likeness of a tree, attracting many photographers to the river bank this time of year in hopes of capturing images of the artistic natural splendor.
"This makes me realize just how many magnificent sights the Qiantang River has," said Zhu Zhen, a tourist at the site.
"Sometimes they look like brush paintings, sometimes they are like relief sculptures. They take the shape of a forest and a dragon. Today, I even photographed one that looks like a frog," said Wang Lihua, another tourist.
"Every day is a surprise and every day they look different. That's the charm of the Qiantang tidal bore," said Huang Qidong, another tourist.
The tidal trees also carry important ecological significance and have been closely studied by researchers as a part of the Qiantang River Estuary ecological monitoring work.
"Tidal flats are areas where terrestrial ecosystems and marine ecosystems converge. Tidal trees spread out on tidal flats, serve as highways for the exchange of matter and energy between the land and the ocean. Fish, shrimp, and seeds can quickly spread out through the flow of water," said Chen Fuyuan, director of the Zhejiang Institute of Hydraulics and Estuary's estuary research laboratory.