An airplane carrying 89 passengers from Xi'an, Shaanxi province receives a water cannon salute as it lands at Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport on July 29. [Photo/zhoushan.cn] 

An airplane carrying 89 passengers from Xi'an, Shaanxi province received a water cannon salute as it landed at Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport on July 29.

This is the first-ever direct flight between the two cities. 

The flight traverses a distance of more than 2,400 kilometers and takes about two hours and 35 minutes. It costs at least 199 yuan ($28.8) for a single trip.

The flight, operated by Spring Airlines, will consist of one round trip between Zhoushan and Xi'an on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Flight 9C6557 will depart from Xi'an at 10:00 am and land in Zhoushan at 12:35 pm. Return flight 9C6558 is set to depart from Zhoushan at 13:20 pm and arrive in Xi’an at 16:00 pm. 

The direct flight is expected to facilitate bilateral cooperation between the two cities, boosting local investment and the development of the tourism sector. 

Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, is one of the oldest cities in China. It is home to the Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, a national 5A scenic attraction, the highest in China's grading system for scenic spots.