A hotel worker killed a local official and injured another after they propositioned her for sex in central Hubei province, it has been alleged.

Deng Yujiao, 21, surrendered to police after the alleged attack at Xiongfeng hotel in Badong county on Sunday, local media reported.

The woman is accused of fatally stabbing Deng Guida, the chief of investment promotion in Yesanguan town. He was 44 years.

Song Jun, Badong's deputy police chief, said the official and two colleagues planned to visit Dream City, an entertainment complex within the hotel, on the night of the incident.

He said Huang Dezhi, one of Deng Guida's colleagues, found the woman washing clothes when they entered the venue.

Huang allegedly asked for sex but Deng said she was KTV staff and offered "no special service".

The pair began arguing and Huang asked Deng what she was doing in the room if she was not there to "offer special services", police said.

As the young woman prepared to leave the room, it is alleged the victim Deng Guida showed her an amount of money.

Song said the woman was further humiliated when Deng Guida pushed her twice on to a sofa when she tried to leave the room.

It is alleged she stabbed Deng three times with a fruit knife and also hit Huang on the right arm when he tried to stop her.

The third official was too frightened to intervene, police said.

Deng died on the way to hospital and Huang was receiving treatment in the city of Yichang.

Yesanguan's police chief Tan Jing said the young woman was a local village girl and may be suffering depression.

She called police after the incident but attacked them with a glass cup when officers arrived, he added.

Anti-depressants were found in Deng Yujiao's backpack, Tan said.