The last person injured in the stabbings at the square of Guangzhou Railway Station on Tuesday was a man, surnamed Shan, who used a wooden rod to fight off his knife-wielding attacker.

Shan, 42, from Heilongjiang province, became well-known among locals after his heroism was published by local media.

"When the attacker moved, I also moved to block him so that he couldn't hurt others," Shan told Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolis Daily.

Shan arrived in Guangzhou by train at about 11 am. When the attack began, he was walking from the square to a nearby bus terminal.

Many people were running away in all directions, Shan said.

The attacker tried to stab Shan in the back, but Shan's knapsack helped block the knife and saved his life. Shan suffered only slight injuries to his head.

"I picked up a wooden rod that had been left on the ground by other passengers to confront the attacker," he said. "More people would have been stabbed if I hadn't done that, because the attacker stabbed everyone he met like crazy."

Shan said he used the rod to knock away the suspect's knife before police officers rushed in.

The man was shot by police, Shan said, though not fatally.

Six people were injured in the stabbings, which occurred about 11:30 am, according to a police statement. The case is still under investigation.

The suspect had no identity card or other certificates or documents, the statement said.

The suspect was sent to No 1 Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and is recovering after surgery, according to the hospital.

Four of the victims were seriously wounded and sent to the General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command. They were in stable condition, a spokesman for the hospital said. Three of the victims underwent surgery at the hospital, he said.

Two others wounded in the attack were sent to Guangdong No 2 Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Security checks in the square of the Guangzhou railway station, one of the three busiest on the Chinese mainland, have been strengthened after the incident. Police officers equipped with firearms have expanded their patrols in the city's busy areas.