CHINA DAILY FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2012 lijiangspecial 7 Lijiang opens fi rst direct fl ight to HK

By LI YINGQING land, Korea and Japan as soon as and GUO ANFEI in Lijiang, Yunnan possible and to make sure at least two international fl ights would open Lijiang, a prefecture-level hotspot within this year. Th e tourist city is of tourism in the northwest of Yun- also considering opening fl ights to nan province, formally opened its fi ve UNESCO-listed World Heritage fi rst direct fl ight to Hong Kong on Sites, including Huangshan Moun- May 31, greatly shortening the travel tain, Jiuzhaigou, Zhangjiajie, Guilin time between the two cities. and the Pingyao Old Town. The flight, operated by Sichuan By 2015, Lijiang airport will have Airlines Co Ltd, will fl y every Tues- more than 35 domestic routes and at day, Th ursday and Saturday. least fi ve international routes, local Before the route opened, passen- officials said. And the airport will gers from Hong Kong to Lijiang had transport more than 4 million tour- to fl y to Kunming, the capital of Yun- ists, including more than 400,000 nan province, or stop over neighbor- foreign tourists, and about 20,000 ing cities. It takes eight hours to ride tons of freight. By then, the airport by bus on a mountainous road from will serve as a top-class airport in the Kunming to Lijiang. Pan-Asian area. Lijiang is also planning new fl ights to other national tourist sites and Contact the writers at Southeast Asian countries, including [email protected] and Japan, Korea and Th ailand. [email protected] On March 6, Lijiang airport was approved to operate as a hub airport, IF YOU GO the third in the province aft er Kun- ming and Xishuangbanna. Airline company Th e airport connects Tibet, Sich- Sichuan Airlines Co Ltd uan and Chongqing to the north; Laos, Th ailand and Singapore to the south; India to the west; and Hong Aircraft Type Airbus 319 (A319) Kong, Macao and Taiwan to the east. GUO ANFEI / CHINA DAILY As early as December 2003, Liji- The Lijiang airport, which expanded recently to become the second largest airport of the province, can transport more than 4 million passengers a year. ang had a direct chartered fl ight for Flight number and round some special tourists to Hong Kong. national fl ights to the city. make Yunnan into Southeast Asia’s tourism market has been boosting second in 2007. Aft er completing the trip time From January to February 2006, the A fl ight from Lijiang to Bangkok gateway. the amount of air traffi c. Th e airport recent expansion, the airport has a From Lijiang to Hong Kong: city again had 18 direct chartered fl ight is scheduled to open by the end Th e Lijiang airport, which expand- transported less than 20,000 passen- designed capacity of transporting 4.5 3U8519, 16:15-18:40 fl ights to Hong Kong. Aft er the Liji- of June, and a route to Seoul is also ed recently to become the second gers in 1995, and the number has million passengers a year and 16,000 From Hong Kong to Lijiang: ang airport was approved as a hub being discussed. largest airport of the province, can since risen to more than 2 million. tons of freight. 3U8520, 20:15-22:55 airport, Lijiang held discussions with Yang Chengxin, a senior official transport more than 4 million pas- And the number of routes has grown Th e old terminal was transformed airliners, such as China Eastern Air- of the Lijiang government, said the sengers a year. The airport started from one in 1995 to 16 in 2011. into an international terminal with Flight schedule lines, Sichuan Airlines, Th ai Airways, city will improve facilities supporting construction in 1992 and was put To meet the increasing demand, an area of 5,300 square meters. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Orient Th ai Airlines and the Korean the Lijiang airport and open more into operation in July 1995. Lijiang airport underwent two Lijiang is working to open fl ights Saturday Air Company about opening inter- domestic and international fl ights to The robust growth of Lijiang’s expansions — one in 1998 and the to China’s Taiwan province, Thai- City’s natural beauty bolsters tourism industry

By ZHUAN TI billion yuan. Th us, its stimulat- through women. [email protected] ing eff ect on economic growth Tourists with a love of super- will be seen,” Wang said. lative natural scenery can take Lijiang, a popular destina- Th e city is considered a natu- a trip to Jade Dragon Snow tion in Yunnan province, plans ral wonderland blessed with Mountain, which provides to provide more travel services, The well-preserved fresh air, clear rivers, breathtak- a majestic backdrop to the facilities and other products to environment is ing snow mountains and an Moon-Embracing Pavilion at attract more visitors, especially the guarantee undisturbed landscape inhab- Black Dragon Pond. foreigners, local tourism offi - ‘‘ ited by a friendly ethnic group. With a forward-looking view cials said. of local tourism Th ese features are expected to of the vital role of tourism in Lijiang aims to increase its and the root of bring about an annual increase the city, the local government number of tourists from 11.8 development. Though in visitors of 12 percent in the has set up new development million in 2011 to 16 million by many construction next three years. programs to fully utilize these 2015, 10 percent of whom are Th e Old Town of Lijiang, a rich tourism resources to make expected to come from foreign programs will begin well preserved ancient town the area a world-famous tourist countries, according to a local soon, we must pay with a history going back more resort. report on tourism develop- more attention than 800 years, has been listed Th ey will optimize the tour- ment during the 12th Five-Year to environmental as a UNESCO World Heritage ism infrastructure over the Plan period (2011-2015). Site since 1997 for its dramatic course of the next few years. Most foreign visitors come protection.” landscape that demonstrates Travelers will be able to enjoy from Japan, Korea, the United WANG JUNZHENG diff erent cultural traditions. more services and products, States and European countries. PARTY SECRETARY OF LIJIANG Its architecture is notewor- such as relaxing in a clean Hong Kong, Macao and Tai- thy for its blend of diff erent cul- environment, playing golf or wan visitors also account for a tural elements from a variety of participating in large meetings large part. eras in antiquity, and its ancient in the city’s newly built conven- PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY In order to maintain a con- Wang Junzheng, Party secre- water supply system still func- tion centers. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Old Town of Lijiang attracts many domestic and stant increase in the number tary of Lijiang. “The service tions eff ectively today. “We have decided to imple- foreign tourists. of foreign visitors, the city sector contributed 32.8 percent For tourists seeking an exotic ment a series of measures to government will expand the of local economic growth in experience, a visit to the Mosuo boost local tourism,” said He infrastructure construction is In cities that have direct “The well-preserved envi- market by doing more pro- 2011.” ethnic group beside Lugu Lake Lianghui, mayor of Lijiang. under way, including airports flights to Lijiang, more pro- ronment is the guarantee of motional work in countries in “Lijiang’s tourism income is a must. Infrastructure programs at Lugu Lake and Lijiang Air- motional programs will be local tourism and the root South Asia, Africa and North reached 15.2 billion yuan They are called the last aiming to further develop the port. started. Closer cooperation of development,” said Wang. America. ($2.39 billion) in 2011, “Kingdom of Women” on current sites will begin opera- Authorities are planning with travel agencies there will “Though many construction “Th e tourism industry plays accounting for the main por- earth. People here do not tions, providing sound service more railways to connect provide updated information programs will begin soon, we an important role in boost- tion of local revenue. By the have traditional marriages, for tourists. major inland cities with this and favorable policies for trav- must pay more attention to ing the whole economy,” said end of 2015, it will grow to 25.7 and property is passed down Additionally, transportation tourism city. elers from these places. environmental protection.”

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with an elevation of 5,596 meters, is renowned for its loftiness, magnifi cence and mysteriousness.