LANZHOU, Oct. 30, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- The first group of Chinese pilgrims to Mecca this year left northwestern Gansu Province Friday on a chartered Air China plane.

The 332 pilgrims, on the flight of CA 1903, were the first of 12,700 Chinese Muslims who are scheduled to take 41 chartered flights of Air China and China Southern Airlines (NYSE:ZNH) to Mecca from Oct. 30 to Nov. 18, said Ma Jianping, head of Gansu Administration for Religious Affairs.

The Hajj, or the major pilgrimage, will be held from Nov. 26 to 30, he said.

The pilgrims came from 27 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China, Ma said.

Most Chinese Mecca pilgrims had been inoculated with the A/H1N1 flu vaccine, as the disease has spread to about 170 countries, said Chang Qingliang, deputy head of the China pilgrimage office of Islamic Association.

More than 40 medical personnel would also be sent to Mecca, Chang said.