A hiker was baffled by a bizarre column of light shooting upwards into the sky from a mountaintop in China.

Holidaymaker Ms Zhao was visiting her relatives in Zixing, Hunan, when she saw the 'mysterious light column' on a hill near a village on January 31.

She told local media that she later learned the strange beam of radiance was part of a wind power station being assembled.

Ms Zhao clarified that the power station was not emitting light but suggested the phenomenon could have been a reflection.

She said: 'I was having dinner at my uncle's house and then went for a walk outside when I saw the 'light column' and filmed it.'

Due to heavy fog that day, the beam was visible for only a few seconds before it disappeared.

Zhao and her relatives tried to spot the towering beam again but were unsuccessful.

However, she noted that locals had mentioned seeing it before.

Staff at the Party and Government Office of Zhoumensi Town confirmed that the 'mysterious light' Ms Zhao witnessed was located in Jianshe Village.

They explained that it was part of a column belonging to a wind power station that has been under construction since last year.