China launched its first lunar probe on Wednesday, first step into its three-stage moon mission, marking a new milestone in the country's space exploration history.

The Chang'e I blasted off at about 6:05 pm on a Long March 3A carrier rocket from the No. 3 launching tower in the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Chinese space experts, technicians and other work staff, joined by experts from Japan, Germany and other countries as well as millions of domestic audience from across the country, were watching the launching process.

The circumlunar satellite, named after a legendary Chinese fairy who is said to have flown to the moon, is expected to enter the Earth-moon transfer orbit on October 31 and arrive in the moon's orbit on November 5.

The satellite will relay the first pictures of the moon in late November and will then continue scientific exploration for a year.

As the launch began Wednesday evening, the attention of the whole country has turned to the small town in Southwest China.