China Southern Airlines has officially launched a direct flight connecting Beihai and Zhengzhou cities in China and the central city of Đà Nẵng.

The routes, with three flights each week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, will be served by Boeing B737-800M aircraft, the Đà Nẵng Culture, Sport and Tourism Department said.

The direct flights aim to boost tourism, trading and investment links between China and Đà Nẵng.

Two third of the 24 direct international flights that operate in Đà Nẵng are from China.

According to latest report from the department, Đà Nẵng has hosted 5.1 million tourists so far this year, 1.76 million of them foreigners.

More than 280,000 Chinese tourists visited the city in the first half this year, mostly from Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shanghai and Beijing, as well as Kunming, Shenyang and Dalian,

Chinese tourists rank first among the number of foreign visitors to Đà Nẵng, with 443,000 visiting the city last year, accouting for 22 per cent of total foreign tourists in the city.

Last month, China inaugurated its Consulate General’s office in Đà Nẵng. Investment and trade links between Đà Nẵng and Chinese businesses and agencies have developed strongly over the last few years. — VNS