① The Qiantang River Region and the Ghost King Tide
Every year around the Mid-Autumn Festival, a rare natural phenomenon is witnessed in the region of the Qiantang River in China. This phenomenon is known as the Ghost King Tide.
On the festival day, crowds of over 100,000 people gather, with many more flocking this year as well. But what exactly is this Ghost King Tide that attracts such large crowds?
Each year around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the sea level rises due to the moon’s gravitational pull, causing a massive tidal bore in the Qiantang River region.
Locally, this is referred to as the Ghost King Tide (Gui Wang Chao),’ and there is even a saying among the Chinese that “one must see the Ghost King Tide at least once in their lifetime.”
Thanks to the Ghost King Tide, the Qiantang River has long been a beloved tourist attraction among the Chinese. The Qiantang River’s Ghost King Tide is recognized as one of the world’s leading tidal bores.
The rare tidal bore phenomenon of the Qiantang River brings about massive waves reaching a height of 30-33 feet (9-10 meters) in an instant. It appears the water is flowing upstream against the river’s current.
Many tourists visit each year to witness this spectacle. However, the Ghost King Tide is also a tidal wave that can cause numerous casualties.
There have been instances where tourists visiting the Qiantang River have been injured due to the strong waves. This year, even more people flocked to the Qiantang River, nearly leading to a major accident.
The sudden Ghost King Tide knocked over a few tourists, and there were also injuries caused by railings broken by the force of the water. In 2011, about 20 tourists who visited the Qiantang River to see the Ghost King Tide were injured.
② The Reason for Risking Lives to See the Ghost King Tide
Watching the Ghost King Tide in a place where you never know when a wave will hit and railings will break can be considered a challenge.
Some people enjoy even greater adventures here. They even venture into the water. Who are they? They are surfers.
Around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the usually calm Qiantang River region experiences waves as large as, or even larger than, those at sea. These Ghost King Tides provide the perfect waves for surfers to showcase their flashy skills.
Surfers and tourists also come to watch the surfers ride through these tidal wave-like waves. Among various surfing spots, the Qiantang River is recognized as the best in terms of the height and speed of the tidal bore.
Due to the tidal bore, the Qiantang River isn’t the only place transformed into a surfer’s paradise. The Amazon in Brazil also experiences a world-renowned tidal bore known as the Amazon Tidal Wave.
This place is also a gathering spot for expert surfers and is considered a global surfer’s paradise. Locally, the tidal bore occurring in the Amazon River is called Pororoca.
In the language of the Puty Indians, Pororoca means ‘roaring’ or ‘making a rough sound.’ This place is just a calm river like the Qiantang River on regular days. However, during high tide, the seawater flows upstream from downstream.
Especially around the time of the new moon or full moon, the tidal range increases, causing even larger waves to surge upstream at speeds exceeding 43 miles per hour, reaching up to 497 miles.
The reason why rivers with tidal bores are surfing paradises isn’t just because of the height and speed of the waves. The long duration for which one can surf is also desirable for surfers.
In the sea, a wave usually lasts for about 30 seconds. However, in the Amazon River, the surfing time is usually about 6 minutes, with the record being 17 minutes, but it can even go up to 40 minutes.
However, due to the numerous wild animals in the Amazon and the trees swept up by the waves, only experienced surfers can enjoy surfing here.
③ The Ghost King Tide, Ultimately a Tidal Wave
We have looked at the Qiantang River in China and the Amazon River in Brazil, both world-renowned tourist attractions and surfing paradises due to their tidal bores.
If tidal bores occurred in all rivers, these places wouldn’t be special attractions or surfing paradises. Generally, a tidal wave refers to a phenomenon where high waves surge from the sea.
However, a tidal wave can also occur in a river when certain conditions are met. If the river’s water level is at its minimum, it’s a full moon, and the tide has enough force to cause the river water to flow upstream, a tidal bore can occur in the river.
Additionally, the riverbank must be narrow, and the riverbed must be high. That’s why not all rivers can have tidal bores.
A tidal bore is a rare natural phenomenon that only occurs in specific regions at specific times. Therefore, it’s no wonder that many people want to see it. However, a tidal bore is a giant wave that can cause casualties.
Tourists who flocked to the Qiantang River region to see the Ghost King Tide also experienced this. Many tourists were injured due to the sudden wave.
Of course, it’s good that the number of tourists increases thanks to the rivers where tidal bores occur. However, it seems most important to establish measures to reduce casualties among tourists.
By. Seo Sung Min
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