A woman gave birth to a baby girl in an Internet cafe in south-eastern China, then continued to surf the Internet, Chinese reports said.

She gave birth by herself in the toilet of the cafe at around 4am on May 11 in Nanchang, Jiangxi province.

Customers alerted the cafe's staff after they heard a baby's cries coming from the toilet, and saw blood stains on the floor.

When the staff entered the toilet, they saw the woman cradling a baby, and holding the umbilical cord in her hand, a China news report said.

The 24-year-old woman from Shandong insisted on going back to the computer, Malaysia's Guang Ming Daily reported.

Shocked by her obsession, some patrons wrapped the baby with a piece of cloth and called for an ambulance. The woman and her baby were eventually taken to a hospital.

According to the woman, she ran away from home after an argument with her family and was supposed to move into her current boyfriend's house, but her wallet was stolen.

The baby came early, while she was waiting for her boyfriend at the Internet cafe. The father of the child is her ex-boyfriend, who had refused to marry her.

Her family members and current boyfriend rushed to the hospital after hearing the news.

The hospital has waived the charges for her stay.

chuimin@sph.com.sg