Dragonair to launch flights to Shenyang in March 2006

Dragonair is to launch direct services to Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province in northeast China, on March 30. The thrice-weekly service, departing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, will operate via Dalian.

“Shenyang will become the 23rd city we fly to in the China Mainland,” said Dragonair CEO Stanley Hui. “It is the biggest economic, cultural and industrial hub in the country’s northeast, and by operating to this important city we shall be strengthening Hong Kong’s position as the premier gateway to the Mainland.

Shenyang, which has a population of about seven million, is well-known for several industries, including machine manufacturing, mining equipment production and vehicle production, and is also a centre for science and technology.

“Shenyang is also home to several historic attractions, including the 380-year-old Imperial Palace that is second in grandeur only to the Forbidden City, and the tomb of the first Qing emperor,” said Mr. Hui.

This year the city hosts the China International Horticultural Exposition 2006, which is expected to attract tourists from all over the world. The last such event held in China, the 1999 Kunming International Horticultural Exposition, drew participants from 69 countries and a total of 9.4 million visitors over a period of six months.

Shenyang also became one of the cities covered by the Individual Travel Scheme last November, which means residents are able to travel more easily to Hong Kong.

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