Far from the usual motorbike race, a total of 99 motorists from China and Thailand competed in the Yunyang International Stairway Racing Festival.

Competitors in Chongqing, China have been making good use of the area's landmark 700 steps, battling obstacles and torrential rain to blast their way up the slippery stones.

Which meant, inevitably, what went up sometimes came down. Of the dozens of crashes, one poor rider fell just inches from the finish line.

Motorbikes are not hogging the limelight though, in the coming days the festival will also host a foot race, and one for cows and sheep.