One hundred and seventy Chinese peace-keepers returned home Thursday after completing an eight-month mission in Lebanon.

Their chartered plane landed at the airport in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, at about 3 p.m.

They are the first soldiers of the 339-member sixth contingent of the Chinese peace-keeping troops to Lebanon to return home, while the remaining 169 members of the contingent will fly home on June 27.

The sixth contingent, consisting of an engineering battalion and a medical team, arrived in Lebanon in October 2009 with the mission of mine clearing, engineering construction and offering medical assistance to local residents, said Wang Liangbin, commander of the engineering battalion.

"All 339 soldiers and officers have been awarded 'Peace-Keeping Medals' by the United Nations due to their diligent work," he said.

China sent its first contingent of peace-keepers to Lebanon in March 2006.

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