A Boeing B737-700 airliner operated by China Eastern Airlines Yunnan Company landed at Shangri-La Airport in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on April 23, marking the official opening of the Guangzhou-Shangri-La air route.

With the flights numbered MU5774 and MU5773, the air route is intended to relieve poverty in Diqing Prefecture by boosting local tourism. “It took nearly three hours to fly to Shangri-La from Guangzhou. It is beautiful here and I hope more tourists can enjoy the beauty of Shangri-La via this new air route." Zhao Bin, captain of the maiden flight, said upon arrival at Shangri-La Airport.

Following the resumption of the Shenzhen-Shangri-La route on January 10 this year, the Guangzhou-Shangri-La route is the second "air bridge” linking theTibetan area to the Guangdong- Hong Kong and Macau great bay area. Here is the flight timetable:  

Source: Diqing Radio and TV; trans-editing by Wang Shixue