A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southwest China's Sichuan province.
The tremors were particularly noticeable in the Luding district southwest of the metropolis of Chengdu, as reported by the state media on Monday.
Out of fear, people fled their homes onto the streets.
Initially, no major damage to buildings was found in the district town.
It was initially unclear what the situation was like in remote areas.
In 2008, the province was hit by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake.
At that time, more than 80,000 people died.
Sichuan lies at the edge of the thrust zone of the Indian tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate.
Because of plate shifts, the province is particularly at risk of earthquakes.