The Airbus A380 superjumbo took off from Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, and heading for Shenzhen on Wednesday morning, starting a week-long demonstration tour of China.

The 519-seat, double-deck aircraft was last in China in November last year, but this time 300 guest passengers were invited aboard for the hour-long flight.

The A380 is leaving for Shanghai on Wednesday afternoon, and later Beijing to continue the China flight tour.

The first Chinese buyer of the A380, China Southern Airlines has ordered five of the aircraft, but delays in the manufacture have dashed the carrier's plans to fly the superjumbos during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The earliest operation in China is expected to be in 2009.

Twelve China Southern stewardesses, who have undergone training for the A380, will experience demonstration flights.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2007)