LANGFANG, CHINA - A video of a man assaulting a woman viciously in a lift after she asked him to stop smoking has sparked furore after it was circulated on China's social media.

The surveillance camera footage captured the man violently hitting the woman while her child stood crying beside her. It all started with her request for him not to smoke in the lift, reported Chinese newspaper People's Daily on Friday (Oct 21).

The incident occurred on Oct 12 in Langfang, situated in central China's Hebei province, according to People's Daily.

The woman, who goes by the surname Li, described the scenario in Mandarin in a video interview, in a report by Chinese news website Sina.

"I was taking my child home and he followed us into the lift. I said to him it is best you do not smoke in the lift. He said 'Why should you care? Why can't I smoke?' I said don't be this way, there is an adult and a child here. Then he came at me with his fists, punching me non-stop," she said.

Ms Li said she had no idea her request was going to anger the man.

His furious thrashing lasted for about half a minute, stopping only when he got off on the ninth floor. She tried to chase after the man to take a photo of him, but he had already fled down the stairs. She gave up as her toddler was still in the lift.

Ms Li said to People's Daily: "Ever since I was born, I have never seen such a savage and inhumane thug."

Local police are still tracking the man down.