This is the moment a pair of courting groundhogs brought traffic to a standstill on a highway in north-western China.

Baffled drivers have to stop while the pair seem so focused on their unconventional speed hump that they apparently forget where they are.

At first some drivers thought, reported local media, that the pair were two males fighting over territory.

But it became obvious that their bizarre dance-like movements were a highly ritualised courtship.

The groundhogs are both on their hind legs as they cuddle each other with their front legs in the footage filmed in Gannan, Gansu Province on 30th May.

As they step in circles they seem to kiss each other as they nibble each other’s snouts.

One motorist can be heard laughing at the antics of the groundhogs, also known as woodchucks.

The video was later posted on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and clocked up more than 20,000 comments from users.

One – ‘silent’ – commented: “Is it a fight or a show of affection?”

Another ‘Yue Yue’ commented: “Groundhogs have boyfriends, but I don’t.”

While ‘kingly demeanor’ commented: “They are dancing the tango or what?”

And ‘Amy’ commented: “Love in the middle of the road.”