New flight to benefit Russian visitors to China

HARBIN -- Air China launched a new flight on Tuesday to connect China's easternmost county of Fuyuan and Beijing, making the trip from the Russian Far East to China cheaper.

Fuyuan, located in Heilongjiang province, is only a few dozen kilometers from Khabarovsk, the largest city in the Russian Far East. Russian tourists often fly from the city to Beijing, with tickets priced at more than 4,000 yuan ($650).

"They have a more economical option now. Flying from Fuyuan to Beijing now costs less than 2,000 yuan," said Wang Jia, deputy general manager of Fuyuan Dongji Airport.

The flight, with a stop in Harbin, Heilongjiang's capital city, is operated by Air China using a Boeing 738. Flight CA1689 will depart every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Beijing at 7:45 am and arrive in Fuyuan at 11:55 am. The return flight, CA1690, departs at 12:45 am from Fuyuan and arrives in Beijing at 4:50 pm on the same days.