This is the heartwarming moment a dinosaur parade lifted crowd spirits at a sports stadium in China.

Dozens of lifelike dinosaur costumes made a surprising appearance during a school football match held at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre in Jiangsu.

Footage shows the prehistoric reptiles ambling across the track, roaring in a flamboyant display as upbeat music blared through the stadium on June 21.

Theropods and ceratosaurs were seen swaying and stomping before the audience, their simulated movements adding energy to the event.

Men dressed in black suits and hats rode atop animatronic Allosauruses, appearing to command the ‘tame' beasts with dramatic flair.

In another scene, a Triceratops and its baby, a Tyrannosaurus, and a Stegosaurus danced along with the rhythm of a live band, despite the rain pouring down on the event.

Local media reported that the dinosaurs were brought in to cheer up the home crowd after the Changzhou team lost 0–4 to Nanjing's 'Suzhou Super League' team.