CHANGSHA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A direct air route was launched Monday between the tourist city of Zhangjiajie in central China's Hunan Province and Osaka, Japan, according to the local airport.

The flight, operated by an Airbus A321 of Sichuan Airlines, flies twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays with a duration of about 3 hours and 50 minutes.

The Zhangjiajie to Osaka flight 3U8405 departs at 11:55 a.m. Beijing time and arrives at 3:05 p.m. Beijing time in Osaka. The return flight 3U8406 departs at 4:05 p.m. Beijing time from Osaka and arrives at 7:55 p.m. Beijing time in Zhangjiajie.

Zhangjiajie is a well-known Chinese tourist destination. The Wulingyuan scenic area in the city is on the World Natural Heritage List of UNESCO.