Tourists were injured when a column of icicles broke off a waterfall and fell 300ft onto them in China.

The incident occurred at the Heishancha Ice Waterfall, a popular 'celebrity check-in spot' on Qinling Mountain near Xi'an City, Shaanxi, on January 4.

Shocking footage shows the moment massive icicles break off the frozen waterfall and tumble down the side of a cliff, smashing onto a large pile of ice and frozen snow at the bottom before ricocheting into a group of holidaymakers standing nearby.

Many visitors were knocked off their feet, with at least one appearing motionless as people screamed as the footage ended.

Reports said one person was injured and taken to hospital with a fractured pelvis. They were later transferred to another hospital to be treated by orthopaedic specialists.

The second clip reveals tourists admiring the landscape, with local reports stating that the Heishancha Ice Waterfall has a 330ft (100-metre) drop.

Staff from the Forest Tourism Scenic Area Management Bureau of Xianyang District told local media on January 5 that the Heishancha Icefall had been closed, and the site of the accident was an undeveloped area in a 'wild scenic area'.

Some visitors ignored previous safety warnings, and the recent rise in temperatures caused the ice waterfall to melt, leading to the incident.

The iconic tourist hotspot is popular in winter when the waterfall freezes, with visitors hiking to the beauty spot to admire the icicles.

An icicle is a spike of ice formed when water melts and refreezes as it drips down a surface, typically in cold weather. They often form on roofs, trees, and other structures during winter.