This is the dramatic moment cars speed to escape a tidal surge wave crashing onto a river bank - resembling a scene from a movie.

Two vehicles accelerated along the paved riverbank to get away from the muddy deluge in the Qiantang River in Zhejiang, China, on September 20.

Footage shows waves from the estuarine river hitting the barricades and flooding the pathway, causing the drivers to manoeuvre quickly to avoid being slammed by the water.

This prompted onlookers to cheer for the car owners.

The Qiantang River Tide attracts thousands of tourists yearly due to its famous tidal bore. The phenomenon occurs when ocean tides forcefully surge into the river's narrow mouth, creating massive waves that can reach heights of up to 9 meters (30 feet).