The first charter flight from Hong Kong to Kashgar arrived at the ancient city along the Silk Road at 7:20 pm on Saturday, cutting the previous travel time by nearly 20 hours.

The flight, operated by China Southern Airlines, took 110 passengers in the investment, tourism and media fields from Hong Kong and Southeast Asian countries to boost economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation.

Wu Jian, manager of a Hong Kong travel agency, told China Daily that Kashgar, with its rich history and unique ethnic features, has big potential as a tourist destination.

Wu said he believed the direct flight would bring more tourists from Hong Kong and Southeast Asian countries to Kashgar.

"The opening of the new route will contribute to economic and trade exchanges and the movement of people between the two cities," said Cheng Zhenshan, Party chief of Kashgar prefecture.

"It has successfully opened up a new Silk Road in the air," Cheng said.

The flight took six hours and 45 minutes with a stopover in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Kashgar prefecture, in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, neighboring Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and India, is an important passageway linking central, western and southern Asia and Europe.

Contact the writer at shaowei@chinadaily.com.cn