A new direct flight was launched on Tuesday to connect the historic Chinese city of Xi'an with Russia's Moscow.

Flight MU5009 will be run twice a week by China Eastern Airlines.

Operated by Boeing 767, MU5009 will take off from Xi'an at 1:30 pm local time every Tuesday and Thursday and arrive in Moscow at 6 pm local time.

The return flight, MU5010, will take of from Moscow at 8:10 pm local time every Wednesday and Friday and arrive Xi'an at 07:30 am local time the next morning.