The first Chinese-born female pilot to circumnavigate the globe in a single-engine airplane received a check for 1 million yuan ($150,000) from the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) of China on Nov 1, the opening day of Airshow China 2016.

Wang Zheng of Palm Beach, Florida was awarded the prize in Zhuhai from a fund aimed at encouraging more women to become pilots so as to boost China’s general aviation industry. The account was set up jointly in 2014 by AOPA China and Chen Wei, who had inspired Wang Zheng in person, and who was the first Chinese man to solo an aircraft around the world.

Wang Zheng receives million yuan [Photo by Song Xuemei / Zhuhai Daily]

Wang, who was born in the coastal city of Dalian in Liaoning Province, began her journey from Texas in the US on Sept 2 this year. After crossing the two oceans and 11 countries and regions, she returned in her Cirrus SR22 to the Lone Star State 18 days later at Addison Airport in Dallas.

Emmanuel Davidson, vice president of AOPA France and head of global marketing for Continental Motors Group -- one of the world's largest manufacturers of piston engines for aircrafts and the main sponsor of the round-the-world-flight -- congratulated Wang at the award ceremony.

Also at the presentation was Zhang Feng, secretary general of AOPA China. He announced that a worldwide gathering of circumnavigators will be held in China in 2018.

AOPA China is committed to cultivating Chinese pilots. According to an industry report in 2015, China had 559 female pilots as of the end of last year. The national general aviation organization said it hopes to increase the number of female pilots in cooperation with everyone.