Chinese tourists are being forced to slow down when they walk past a historic site as authorities were concerned that it wasn’t being appreciated enough.

Speed bumps for pedestrians have been installed along a road at Taierzhuang, an ancient town and heritage site on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

There are more than 50 bumps - in an eye-catching stripey yellow and black - which are officially described as calming devices but are also fast earning themselves the nickname "washboard road".

Tourists have to negotiate more than 50 bumps Credit: Rex/Shutterstock

Pictures of the humps were shared on social media by People’s Daily China and showed dozens of people concentrating on their feet and stepping carefully now that they are prevented from walking freely.

It was suggested that the humps were introduced in order to encourage crowds to pass in a more orderly and respectful way.

It is thought they were introduced to encourage visitors to slow down and appreciate the view more Credit: Rex/Shutterstock

Reaction to the pedestrian calming measures was mixed.

People’s Daily China sent a tweet asking whether the humps were an overreaction and suggested that many people had been stunned to see them.

A bit overconcerned? Speed bumps seen in a short range of pedestrian walks at a scenic spot in east China stunned many Chinese netizens pic.twitter.com/OeOUc0h5Hj — People's Daily,China (@PDChina) April 30, 2017

“Look more like they are for uphill traction for low powered vehicle? Or for car suspension testing?” said @ukrftrbrx. “Just insane otherwise to have so many.”