A direct air route linking Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, with Hong Kong is expected to be opened on July 21.

The airplane, a Boeing 757-200, will fly from Lhasa to Hong Kong every Thursday and return every Saturday. It takes four hours to complete a one-way trip.

Previously, visitors to Tibet had to stay overnight in Chengdu.

Tibet is a fast growing tourist destination. Large crowds of tourists thronged to Tibet from various parts of China on holidays.

The opening of the new air route will satisfy the growing needs of Hong Kong residents and increase tourist development in Tibet, said a Tibetan official.

Tibet will expand the Gonggar Airport within the year and build three feeder line airports in Nyingchi and Ngari counties

(People’s Daily 06/26/2001)