Beijing: A strong earthquake that hit southwest China's mountainous Yunnan province has killed one person and left more than 300 people injured as well as 50,000 displaced.

The shallow 6.0 magnitude quake hit late on Tuesday in a region that lies close to China's borders with Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Outdoor respite: Residents rest outdoor in the aftermath of an earthquake in the town of Yongping in south-west China's Yunnan province. Credit:AP

One person was so far known to have died, the official Xinhua news agency said.

It said 324 people were injured, mainly in Jinggu County, close to the epicentre of the quake.