TAIYUAN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhen Airlines has launched a direct air route between the Thai tourist destination of Pattaya and the Chinese cultural city of Yuncheng in north China's Shanxi Province.
The outbound flight leaves Yuncheng at 11 a.m. every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, and arrives in Pattaya at 2 p.m. local time. The return flights depart Pattaya at 3 p.m. local time and arrive in Yuncheng at 8 p.m.
Yuncheng is known as the birthplace of Guan Yu, an ancient general widely revered by the Chinese. Guan was known for his bravery and loyalty during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). He was also fictionalized as a character in the classic Chinese novel "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms."
Chinese people, and many in Southeast Asia as well, regard him as the god of wealth, and he is especially worshipped by those who run businesses. Many Southeast Asian visitors come to Yuncheng to participate in activities honoring Guan every year.
In 2016, about 9,000 people from Yuncheng flew to Thailand via cities such as Xi'an, Taiyuan, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The direct air route will make travel easier for local residents and for tourists from Southeast Asia, according to authorities with the local airport. Enditem
