Dinosaur footprints, estimated to be 100 million years old, have been uncovered at a restaurant in China.

In southwestern China, an observant diner discovered ancient dinosaur footprints dating back 100 million years in the outdoor courtyard of a restaurant.

At a restaurant in Leshan, Sichuan province, several stone pits revealed footprints of two sauropods, giant dinosaurs from the early Cretaceous period, according to Lida Xing, a paleontologist at the China University of Geosciences.

Using a 3D scanner, Xing's research team confirmed the discovery on Saturday.

Sauropods, the colossal dinosaurs known for their long necks and tails, were the largest land animals in history. They could grow as long as three school buses, and their massive size caused the ground to tremble as they moved.

According to Xing, the two sauropods that left the footprints were likely around 8 meters (26 feet) long.

While Sichuan has yielded many dinosaur fossils from the Jurassic period, finds from the Cretaceous period are rarer. Xing explained that the Cretaceous was a time when dinosaurs truly thrived, making this discovery an important addition to the understanding of the diversity of dinosaurs in the region.

Xing noted that China's rapid modernization in recent years has made it harder for paleontologists to conduct research on ancient life through fossil records.

Fossils are rarely found in cities because construction has covered them, Xing explained. His team makes it a priority to investigate potential sites within 48 hours of receiving a report, fearing that construction work could destroy the fossils in a matter of days.

Before becoming a restaurant, the site was a chicken farm, where layers of dirt and sand buried the dinosaur footprints, protecting them from erosion and weathering.

The dirt was removed only a year ago when the restaurant opened. The owner, appreciating the natural aesthetic, left the uneven stone surface as is, rather than smoothing it with cement, Xing noted.

As a result, Xing explained, the footprints were well-preserved. 'When we examined the site, we found the footprints to be deep and clearly visible, though no one had previously considered the possibility of their existence.'

To protect the footprints, the restaurant owner has now installed a fence around the site and is considering building a shed for further protection. Xing noted that this reflects an encouraging increase in public interest in science.

'Ten years ago, nobody would have sent me photos of suspected dinosaur fossils or footprints,' Xing said. 'But nowadays, I receive several such photos from regular citizens, and I confirm multiple dinosaur footprints each year.'