CHANGSHA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- A direct air route between Singapore and the tourist city of Zhangjiajie in central China's Hunan Province was launched on Thursday.

The new route uses Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, and operates round-trip flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Official data shows that in 2024, Zhangjiajie welcomed visitors from 183 countries and regions. Singapore was the city's seventh-largest source of inbound tourists that year, accounting for some 81,000 arrivals.

Zhangjiajie, known for its spectacular sandstone pillars and as the inspiration for the movie "Avatar," has expanded its international tourism market beyond established sources.

"This year, with China's continued optimization of its visa-free transit policy, Zhangjiajie has opened 15 international or regional passenger routes," said He Chao, deputy general manager of Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport.

The airport now connects to 11 overseas destinations, including Seoul, Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong, handling more than 103 flights each week, according to He.

Zhangjiajie is a well-known Chinese tourist destination. The city's Wulingyuan scenic area is a natural site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.  ■