A man in Qinzhou, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has been sentenced to death after being convicted of hacking to death four children and one woman for revenge.

The Qinzhou Intermediate People's Court also ordered Liang Jiqian, 52, to pay 105,786.96 yuan (US$13,223) to one of the victims' families, who filed a lawsuit for compensation, the Legal Daily said.

The court found that at about 6pm on April 28, Liang heard some people talking in the kitchen of his neighbor Lu Guilan. He suspected they were jeering him.

Liang rushed into Lu's kitchen and hacked 8-year-old Liang Yingjun and 9-year-old Liang Jiang, who were playing, with a sword several times.

Then, Liang broke into Lu's room and killed another child.

Lu and several other children fled the house.

After leaving Lu's house, Liang hacked three other children and a 38-year-old. Liang Jiang died on May 1.

Liang Jiqian was captured hours later. His wife died from an illness several months ago, leaving him to care for a 10-year-old disabled son.