Helicopter routes departing to Hong Kong and Macao will be launched this month when the first phase of the GHM Helicopter Pad in Guangzhou's Huangpu district enters trial operation.

An artist rendering of the GHM Helicopter Pad.

China Southern Airlines General Aviation Ltd will pilot the Bell 407 Helicopter to provide sightseeing services, business chartered flights, freight transport, medical rescue missions, wedding ceremony services, and fight training services.

The travel between Guangzhou and Macao will be cut from three hours to 30 minutes.

Reservation can now be made for the first two sightseeing routes. The 599-yuan ($92) flight on Nov 26 will pass by Lotus City, Lotus Tower, the Kwan-yin statue, and an ancient quarry relic, while the 699-yuan flight on Nov 27 will pass by Nanhai God Temple, Whampoa (Huangpu) Military Academy Memorial Hall, and Zhongshan Park.

More cross-border low-altitude flight routes will be launched in the future based on market demands.