China successfully launched its second manned spacecraft, carrying two Chinese astronauts into orbit.
The lift-off, from Jiuquan in the Gobi desert, was shown live on state television and included views from a camera on the outside of the craft. The mission is expected to see the Shenzhou VI orbit the Earth for five days, during which the astronauts will carry out experiments.
It comes almost exactly two years after China's first manned space flight.
The two men chosen for the mission, former fighter pilots Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, were selected after a rigorous screening process.