China Southern Airlines flight CZ5553 landed at Lishui Airport with 120 passengers on board on Aug 25 at 10:26 am, marking the official launch of the direct flight route between Lishui and Guangzhou.

A water salute celebrates the first flight from Guangzhou to Lishui at Lishui Airport in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Lishui Daily]

Since its inauguration on July 18, Lishui Airport has established direct flights to four major top-tier Chinese cities — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen — and entered full cooperation with China's three major airlines: Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines. It has begun to take shape as a regional aviation hub in Southwest Zhejiang.

The new route reduces travel time between Lishui and Guangzhou from nearly seven hours by land to about two hours by air, providing efficient transportation for business travel, tourism, and family visits.

Now operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, the route offers convenient connections via Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to international destinations including London, Amsterdam, Auckland, Paris, Bangkok, and Bali through China Southern Airlines' network.

A passenger takes a photo with with performers in traditional She ethnic attire. [Photo/Lishui Daily]

At 11:45 am on the same day, the return flight CZ5554 departed from Lishui to Guangzhou with 166 passengers onboard, recording a passenger load factor of 96.51 percent — demonstrating strong market acceptance of the new route.

Looking ahead, Lishui Airport will continue to expand its route network and enhance service quality, further promoting economic, trade, cultural, and tourism exchanges between Lishui and other cities across China and worldwide.