Around 20 riot police were summoned to help pacify angry tourists in Macau, China who claimed they were being forced into shopping by being led to shops instead of being shown the country's cultural heritage.

The tourists complained their guides were pressuring them to buy foods and other goodies instead of showing them more of the former Portuguese colony's historic sites.

However, a melee was almost triggered when arriving at a windy beach, they were not allowed to get on board their bus to get warm clothing.

Armed with riot shields and batons, the police quelled the five-hour standoff with 100 tourists in the newly-recognized gambling haven in Asia, arresting at least four of the tourists in the process.

"Some tourists refused to let some of our colleagues go and attempted to use violence," one of the police officers said.