A regular air route from this capital of central China's Henan Province to Bangkok, capital of Thailand, is now in operation.

This is the first route directly connecting the province with a foreign city, sources said.

Boeing 737s operate on the route, which takes 3.5 hours to cover.

Planes are scheduled to take off at 9:00 p.m. each Friday from Zhengzhou and return at 7:00 a.m. each Saturday from Bangkok.

Visitors from Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries comprise the majority of tourists visiting Henan, and those countries are also favorites with tourists from Henan.

Previously, passengers both ways had to fly via Hong Kong, Macao or Guangzhou.

(Eastday.com.cn 07/08/2001)