China says its lunar probe has successfully taken off from the far side of the moon to begin its journey back to Earth carrying the first samples ever collected from the region.

State media says the collecting module of the Chang'e-6 craft lifted off about 07:38 on Tuesday (23:38 GMT Monday) to begin the journey back.

On Sunday, the robot landed in a giant crater close to the moon's south pole in a world-first feat celebrated by the international science community.

China is the only country to have landed on the far side of the moon, having also done so before in 2019.

The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) described the mission's landing and lift-off as an ''unprecedented feat in human lunar exploration''.

The far or "dark" side of the moon - which faces away from Earth - is technically challenging to reach due to its distance, and its difficult terrain of giant, deep craters and few flat surfaces.

Space officials have had to use a satellite to direct and maintain communications with the Chang'e-6 craft.

China aims to be the first country to bring back rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon, which scientists say could be very different from rock formations on the near side.

State media published videos from China's space agency showing the Chang'e 6 craft sticking out a little arm and waving the Chinese flag after it collected the precious samples.

It is China's sixth mission to the moon, named after the moon goddess Chang'e in Chinese mythology.