China has begun human trials of its homegrown bird flu vaccine with six volunteers receiving shots, the Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.

    A total of 120 people, aged from 18 to 60 and all from Beijing and in good health, had volunteered to take part in the trials, Xinhua said.

    "After half an hour of clinical observation, the volunteers experienced no bad reaction of either the whole or part of the body," the agency said.

    Though the trials will need nine months of tests, initial results are expected within the first three, it added.

    Xinhua provided no further details.