Concrete filled reactive powder concrete (RPC) tube (CFRT) is a novel cement-based tubular composite column, which effectively combines super-high mechanical performance of RPC and lateral confining action from hoops. In this paper, four CFRT columns and one ordinary hoops-confined concrete column were tested under cyclic and constant axial load. The failure mode, hysteresis behavior and strain development of reinforcements were investigated, and the relevant seismic parameters were analyzed. CFRT columns exhibited typical bending failure characteristics. In contrast to conventional reinforced concrete column, the surface of RPC tube was characterized with well distributed fine cracks, without any RPC cover spalling or crushing. The CFRT columns showed significantly higher initial stiffness, lateral load carrying capacity, ductility and energy dissipation compared with the corresponding reinforced concrete column. Under the test conditions, the limit plastic drift ratios of CFRT columns vary between 0.042 and 0.075, which largely exceed the specified limit (0.02) according to the rare earthquake requirement in Chinese seismic design code. The results also reveal that RPC tube filled with high strength concrete is an acceptable combination for CFRT columns.