The attack on Shaanxi province's Xi'an Township and Village Enterprise University lasted two hours Sunday, the Life Daily newspaper reported.

When the attackers had left, eight people had been injured, and more than 30 offices and dormitory rooms had been damaged, while the windscreens of a sedan parked on campus were smashed, the paper reported.

A journalist visiting the campus reported a chaotic scene of overturned beds and chairs.

Robbery was the most likely motive for the attack, as the attackers left with 11 mobile phones and more than 20,000 yuan (2,470 dollars) in cash, according to the paper.