The quake was felt Friday and residents fled out of buildings fearful of what might happen, the Xinhua news agency said.

However, there were no injuries or damage to infrastructure.

"It was a very small earthquake and as far as we know there was no damage and no casualties," a State Seismological Bureau official told AFP.

Earthquakes regularly hit China's Tibetan plateau, western Xinjiang region and the country's southwest, but are less common around the Guangdong area.

TERRA.WIRE