An old man was caught on camera angrily slapping a woman on a subway in central China after she allegedly refused to give him her seat.
The pair were travelling on the No. 6 line on Wuhan Metro on Wednesday during rush hour when they started arguing. The agitated man started to launch a volley of verbal abuse at the woman after she reportedly refused to stand up.
The incident has sparked a debate among Chinese net users, with some outraged by the man’s actions while some showed sympathy.
The pair were travelling on the No. 6 line on Wuhan Metro in Hubei province on Wednesday during rush hour when they started arguing after the woman refused to give up her seat
![The agitated man then suddenly reached out and slapped the woman across her face](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/14/11/4D38580700000578-5843023-The_agitated_man_then_suddenly_reached_out_and_slapped_the_woman-a-29_1528972584625.jpg)
The agitated man then suddenly reached out and slapped the woman across her face
Video footage of the shocking incident in Hubei province shows an old man yelling and swearing in front of a seated woman, presumably in her 40s.
The man was travelling with a bicycle at about 9.20am and was desperately looking for a seat on the crowded train, according to Chutian Metropolitan Daily.
The incident happened as the train was travelling between the stations Dazhi Road and Jianghan Road.
Witnesses who heard the commotion said the woman and the old man started fighting after he asked for a seat and she refused.
She then reportedly accused the pensioner of being a ‘self-conceited man’ and said he was bullying others just because he was old.
This further enraged the old man, who then suddenly reached out and slapped her across the face fiercely.
![The old man is seen yelling and swearing in front of a seated woman, presumably in her 40s](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/14/11/4D38580200000578-5843023-The_old_man_is_seen_yelling_and_swearing_in_front_of_a_seated_wo-a-30_1528972588634.jpg)
![She reportedly accused the pensioner of being a 'self-conceited man' and said he was bullying others just because he was old](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/14/11/4D38582900000578-5843023-She_reportedly_accused_the_pensioner_of_being_a_self_conceited_m-a-31_1528972591109.jpg)
The old man is seen yelling and swearing in front of a seated woman, presumably in her 40s. The he suddenly reached out and slapped her across the face in front of other passengers
![The woman reportedly accused the pensioner of being a 'self-conceited man' and said he was bullying others just because he was old. This further infuriated the old man](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/14/11/4D38582F00000578-5843023-The_woman_reportedly_accused_the_pensioner_of_being_a_self_conce-a-32_1528972597764.jpg)
The woman reportedly accused the pensioner of being a ‘self-conceited man’ and said he was bullying others just because he was old. This further infuriated the old man
![After being hit, the woman shot up from her seat and fought back verbally](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/14/11/4D38580E00000578-5843023-After_being_hit_the_woman_shot_up_from_her_seat_and_fought_back_-a-33_1528972601554.jpg)
After being hit, the woman shot up from her seat and fought back verbally
Bystanders were heard gasping and exclaiming at the man’s outrageous behaviour.
After being hit, the woman shot up from her seat and fought back verbally.
Both of them wouldn’t back down. The woman was also seen pointing at the man and pushing his bicycle while he continued to berate her.
Shocked bystanders tried to mitigate the situation, with one fellow commuter seen pulling back the man.
The foul-mouthed man eventually got off at the Jianghan Road stop.
A spokesperson from Wuhan Metro said while staff members have the responsibility to intervene altercations and such ‘uncivilised behaviours’ when they come across them, there are currently no standardised guidelines or measures in place, according to the report.
![Bystanders tried to mitigate the situation, with one fellow commuter pulling back the man](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/14/11/4D38581600000578-5843023-Bystanders_tried_to_mitigate_the_situation_with_one_fellow_commu-m-36_1528972612187.jpg)
Bystanders tried to mitigate the situation, with one fellow commuter pulling back the man
![The woman is seen pushing the man's bicycle while he continued to berate her](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/14/11/4D38583700000578-5843023-The_woman_is_seen_pushing_the_man_s_bicycle_while_he_continued_t-m-37_1528972627890.jpg)
The woman is seen pushing the man’s bicycle while he continued to berate her
Any major conflict between passengers will be reported to the police, the spokesperson added.
The now-viral video has triggered a discussion among Chinese net users, with some slamming the man’s actions while others thought the woman was in the wrong.
‘This man is just crazy,’ said one. ‘If I were the woman, I would probably have slapped him back!’
‘The woman doesn’t look like a young person at all – she has every right to stay in her seat,’ another said.
However, some said the woman should have just promptly given up her seat.
‘You should be respectful to the elderly no matter what,’ one said.