Direct flights link South Korea, Inner Mongolia

More than 800 travelers from South Korea have arrived in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, via direct flight routes that opened this week, according to local authorities.

China United Airlines launched four new routes from Ordos Ejin Horoo International Airport to four cities in South Korea — Seoul, the capital, as well as Chungju, Jeju and Muan — on Tuesday.

China United will operate four round trips weekly along the routes, bringing an estimated 12,000 passengers per week to Ordos, a city known for its wealth, historical sites and a blend of vast stretches of grassland and deserts.

Yang Yafu, who is responsible for communications at the Ordos airport, said the first impression many South Korean visitors have of the city is that it is "clean and beautiful."

On Wednesday afternoon, the city welcomed a group of about 50 South Korean tourists who flew for about three hours directly from Chungju. "They plan to tour the city and get a taste of its nomadic lifestyle and cuisine," Yang said.

A female tourist surnamed Kim said during an interview with China Daily that she was primarily attracted to Inner Mongolia for its cool climate in summer, and she was most looking forward to sliding on sand dunes and riding camels in the desert.

"My home country does not have deserts or prairies, so seeing these views with my own eyes for the first time is a very novel experience," she said.

According to tourism authorities in Inner Mongolia, it is seeing an increasing number of foreign tourists this year. During the first quarter of the year, it received 342,000 travelers from overseas.

More direct flights from Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines to Ordos and other cities across the autonomous region are expected to be launched in the future.