Christian Bale has reportedly been assaulted while trying to visit one of his heroes in China.

The Hollywood star has been in the country to promote his latest movie The Flowers of War. The movie is set in China 1937 during the Nanking Massacre and follows a group of escapees attempting to survive while their city is invaded.

Christian was followed by CNN cameras as he went to meet activist Chen Guangcheng, in a small village in eastern China.

Chen is a blind lawyer and activist who has fought authorities by trying to bring human rights issues in China into the international limelight. He's spent time in prison and since his 2010 release has not been allowed to leave his home.

CNN has posted footage of Christian attempting to gain access to Chen on its website. He is stopped from entering the village where the activist lives by a group of men.

"What I really wanted to do was to meet the man, shake his hand and say what an inspiration he is," Christian said.

In the video, Christian asks for access to Chen with the help of a translator. A guard tells him to leave and when the star queries why he isn't allowed a meeting the men starting grabbing and punching at the camera.

"Why can I not visit this free man?" Christian asks, which is when the guards start hitting him.

Many people have tried to visit 40-year-old Chen in the past but no one has ever been allowed through.