This is the shocking moment a moonlighting cabbie beats a female taxi driver to the ground and then leaves her lying on the tarmac in a row over customers.

The incident took place in the city of Ankang, in the Chinese province of Shaanxi, on 31st March.

In the footage, the unnamed man can be seen pinning the woman to the ground with his leg on her hair, and manhandling her and forcing her to the ground a second time after she gets up.

While some people can be seen simply standing around and looking on, at least one man, dressed in a black suit, is seen trying to intervene. However, he is attacked and insulted by the cabbie, who can be seen ripping his face mask off.

The police were called and opened an investigation into the incident. They found that the man, who is not a registered taxi driver, had apparently been operating an illegal taxi service.

According to reports, his violent actions were the result of competing over customers with the female, legal taxi driver.

The woman was reportedly hospitalised after the roughing up and her current condition is unclear.

The man was remanded in custody for 10 days and the police seized his vehicle as the investigation continues.