This Chinese man has been turning heads after he was spotted apparently being driven around town by a long-haired female robot.

The short video clip was shot in Tangshan, which is a coastal, industrial prefecture-level city in the northeast of China’s Hebei province.

It was later revealed that the apparent robot was not really pedalling and that the device was actually an electricity-powered tricycle, on which the female mannequin had been put in place to make it seem as if she were powering the vehicle.

It was also revealed that she was not actually steering and that it was the elderly man sat behind, who had created the device, who was the one directing the vehicle.

The short clip started heated debate, as people were unsure how the elderly inventor was managing to steer the vehicle he had built, as he did not appear to have his hands or feet on any controls.

Local traffic officials told local media that modifying electric vehicles without a licence is illegal and can result in a fine, even if the vehicle is found to have been created properly.

The name of the elderly man was not revealed.