The direct flight between China’s northernmost city of Mohe and its easternmost city of Fuyuan was launched on Thursday.
The two cities in the northeastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang offer breathtaking scenery, but are about 1,600 kilometers apart and there is no direct rail connection.
“The opening of this air route would shorten the travel time between China’s North Pole and East Pole from the current 20 hours by highway or 36 hours by rail to two hours by plane,” said Yuan Ye, head of the transportation department of the Heilongjiang Department of Transport.
It is expected that the new flight will play an important role in promoting regional tourism.
The flight is operated by Chengdu Airlines using ARJ21 aircraft. The flights depart every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from the provincial capital Harbin and make a round trip to Harbin, according to local media reports.
Direct flight between China’s northernmost and easternmost cities launched
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Wednesday that it had filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case of American sprinter Erriyon Knighton, who was allowed to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris after being acquitted in a doping case.
Knighton tested positive for the banned steroid trenbolone in an out-of-competition test on March 26. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) decided against a suspension, attributing the positive result to contaminated meat. This decision allowed Knighton to compete in the qualifiers for the Paris Olympics, a move that sparked widespread concern.
The 20-year-old eventually finished fourth in the men’s 200 m final in Paris and declined any interviews after the race, leaving reporters waiting in vain.
Founded in 2017, the AIU is an independent organization that addresses all threats to the integrity of athletics.
On Tuesday, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) also released a statement on Erriyon Knighton’s positive steroid test, calling on USADA to review its procedures and principles in doping cases to ensure compliance with the goals of the global anti-doping system and to demonstrate the necessary integrity and consistency in its work.
AIU appeals after Knighton competed in Paris 2024 Olympics due to doping
AIU appeals after Knighton competed in Paris 2024 Olympics due to doping
