Six water buffaloes led by two farmers strolled through the busy centre of downtown Wuhu in Anhui Province on Tuesday as traffic police stood by helplessly, reports Jianghuai Morning Post.

The buffaloes appeared without warning at Zhongshanbei Road at about 8 pm amidst the usual crowds of pedestrians and vehicles.

Some stared at the big animals and chatted with the farmers, while others avoided the herd for fear of being trampled should the beasts become suddenly roused.

As the procession turned into Zhonghe Road, the city's busiest thoroughfare, a woman shouted to her husband, "Quick! Bring our son over here and let him see the buffaloes."

The two farmers explained to traffic police that they were walking the animals through the busy streets because it was a short cut to rural Yangmaogeng.

The officers told the newspaper they were powerless to stop the animals, as they were not driving a cart or any other sort of vehicle.

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