A sightseeing boat at a 1,500-year-old Buddhist site was dramatically rescued after being caught in a sudden gale.

Reports stated that a strong gust of wind caused the watercraft on the Yihe River to lose control on May 2.

The boat was touring the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan province, China.

Authorities quickly activated an emergency response plan, dispatching two diesel-powered speedboats to tow the larger vessel back to shore.

Footage shows a smaller speedboat towing the larger sightseeing vessel to safety.

All tourists on board were unharmed and safely disembarked.

Earlier that day, the local meteorological department had issued a blue alert for strong winds, forecasting gusts reaching levels 7 to 8 on the Beaufort scale.

The Longmen Grottoes, also known as Longmen Caves, are one of China's most important Buddhist heritage sites and are carved into limestone cliffs along the Yihe River in central China's Henan province.

The site features over 2,300 caves and niches, 110,000 Buddhist statues, 60 stupas, and more than 2,800 inscriptions, many from the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Longmen Grottoes attract millions of visitors yearly, many of whom take sightseeing boats along the river to view the ancient sculptures from the water.

As an outdoor attraction, the site remains vulnerable to sudden changes in weather, including seasonal high winds.