This is the dramatic moment a dust devil tornado swirled past tourists in a desert.

Footage shows the towering wind vortex whirling across the field as holidaymakers scrambled to get out of the way in Qinghai, China.

The seemingly calm vacationers can be seen casually strolling around, unfazed by the funnel on August 17.

No injuries were reported from the incident.

Dust devil tornadoes are types of whirlwinds that form when the sun heats a patch of land, and the air above becomes warmer and rises quickly.

Cooler air then moves into the low-pressure gap left by the rising warm air. The new drafts of cooler air also heat up and rise and the cycle continues, picking up dust and debris and making the spiral visible.

They are not as dangerous as supercell tornadoes, which can cause severe damage.