A sightseeing boat at a 1,500-year-old Buddhist site was dramatically rescued after being caught in a sudden gale, with all passengers safely brought ashore.

The incident occurred on 2nd May, when a sudden gust of wind caused the sightseeing boat on the Yihe River visiting the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, in China's Henan province, to lose control.

The Longmen Grottoes Scenic Area promptly activated its emergency response plan, dispatching two diesel-powered speedboats to tow the larger vessel back to shore.

Videos shared online show the smaller speedboats successfully pulling the larger sightseeing boat to safety, with onlookers praising the swift and effective rescue operation.

The local meteorological department had issued a blue alert for strong winds earlier that day, forecasting gusts of up to 7-8 on the Beaufort scale.

Thanks to the timely response and preparedness of the scenic area's staff, all tourists on board were unharmed and safely disembarked.

Tourist boat gets stuck in middle of Yi River, in Luoyang, Henan Province, China, amid strong winds on 2 May 2025. It had to be towed back to shore. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (AsiaWire/NX)

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.

It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts millions of visitors each year, many of whom take sightseeing boats on the river to view the sculptures from the water.

As an outdoor attraction, the area is exposed to sudden changes in weather, including strong seasonal winds.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)