This is the spectacular moment a meteor lit up the night sky as it streaked across southern China.

Stunned locals watched as the blazing fireball appeared over Maoming, Guangdong, on May 28.

Dashcam footages show the sky suddenly glowing as the bolide shot through the clouds, accompanied by a thunderous noise that left motorists in awe.

The meteor was reportedly seen in neighbouring cities and as far as northern Hainan.

Meteorite enthusiast Haitou Wang explained that meteors typically burn as they pass through Earth's atmosphere. If they explode mid-air, they produce a thunder-like sound, after which the remaining fragments may continue flying without light for a short period.

While the exact cause of this fireball has not been confirmed, its appearance coincides with the tail end of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, which peaks in early May.

A meteor sighting occurs when a space rock enters Earth's atmosphere and ignites from friction, often resulting in a brilliant flash and, in some cases, a loud sonic boom.