BEIJING, Sept. 17-- A total of over 12,000 Chinese Muslims have embarked on the annual pilgrimage held in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

A charter flight with 297 Chinese Muslims from North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Wednesday morning left Beijing, heading for the Hajj.

Chinese airlines have assembled 94 chartered flights to transport the passengers to Mecca and back.

Authorities estimate the total number of Chinese pilgrims will exceed 14,000 who go to Mecca on a government-organized trip this year. The last group for the hajj is scheduled to leave on Saturday.

The hajj will be officially between Oct. 3 to Oct. 7.

The five-day session will be also attended by over 50 Chinese official functionaries who will provide medical and security services.