In an undated photo, a man wearing giraffe headgear is seen in a supermarket in Shanghai. [Photo: people.com.cn]

A man who was spotted wearing giraffe headgear around Shanghai said he was making an amateur video and didn't intend to offend anyone.

In an online video, the self-styled Dr Kylin said he wished to arouse public attention about China's traditional culture and fantasy. A kylin is a Chinese unicorn existing only in myth.

The man with the giraffe's head was witnessed on the metro, in supermarkets and in other public places in Shanghai.

A witness, as Zhao, said he was stunned by the giraffe head when he was taking the metro but later found some people with him were using video cameras.

However, there were a number of people who said they felt uncomfortable when they saw him. Others thought it might be a sales promotion for his video show.

The giraffe head was reported by numerous Chinese Web sites and BBS with pictures and stories.

Dr Kylin said Chinese people in Ming Dynasty called the giraffe kylin when they first saw the animal, which was brought back by Zheng He, China's most famous navigator dispatched by the late emperor to travel to west in seven epic voyages.