Every year, thousands of visitors and tourists gather to watch the soaring tide on the banks of Qiantang River in Haining, eastern China's Zhejiang province.

Tidal waves are seen each year at the river during the eighth month of the Lunar calendar, with the most violent tide reaching a height of nine metres (29.5 feet), according to the local media.

Qiantang River is one of the few places in the world where the tidal phenomenon occurs, when an incoming tide forms a wave that travels up a river against the direction of the river's current.

However, as Typhoon Nanmadol approaches eastern China, the tides and waves in Qiantang River recorded the highest level in 10 years on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

Tropical storm Nanmadol headed for China on Monday, lost strength after drenching southern and eastern Taiwan, forcing evacuations, shutting businesses, disrupting transport but causing no major damage.

Heavy rains and strong winds caused by Typhoon Nanmadol led to severe flooding and landslides in the northern Philippines on Saturday, killing two people while two others remained missing.

Some of the latest pictures below show the soaring tides on the banks of Qiantang River and a few file photos depicting the unique tidal phenomenon.