Huzhou launches helicopter sightseeing route in Xiayang village, Anji county. [Photo/Tide News]

Forty residents experienced the inaugural tourism helicopter flight in Xiayang village, Anji county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 1.

The helicopter traversed the skies above Xiayang village, taking off at the Xiaohangkeng Camp and landing at the village committee's front square. The successful trial flight marked the official commencement of the low-altitude sightseeing route in the Village.

A regular timetable will be released by mid-December, offering scheduled low-altitude services to residents and tourists, subject to compliance with aviation regulations and weather conditions.

Yin Ying, deputy general manager of Anji Transportation Investment and Development Group, outlined the county's plans to expand the low-altitude tourism flight beyond Xiayang village. Future routes will connect hotels to the Lingfeng National Tourist Resort, offer a mountain tour in the Huangpu River Source Ecological Wetland, and establish transportation links from major hotels to Shanghai's airports.

Looking ahead, Anji aims to fast-track the development of urban air terminals, helicopter landing pads, and drone facilities, supporting the launch of direct special lines for tourism and transportation within and outside the county to provide residents with a convenient and novel mode of travel.