The Wuhan city police force said on its microblog that three of the victims were attacked today at an office where 40-year-old Wang Xiang worked following a disagreement between him and his co-workers.
Wang then drove to another spot where he attacked passers-by.
The microblog said police fired their guns to subdue Wang but doesn't mention his condition.
China bans private gun ownership, making knives and homemade bombs the most common weapons in violent attacks.