URUMQI, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A direct air route connecting Urumqi, the capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, was inaugurated on Tuesday. This marks China's first direct flight to Armenia, a country increasingly recognized as a popular travel destination.

The service, operated by China Southern Airlines, runs every Tuesday and Saturday, with a flight duration of around five hours.

Armenia has introduced a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens, drawing many Chinese tourists on the inaugural day of the new route. Chinese traveler Chen Xi said "The timing is perfect -- leaving from Urumqi, we arrived in Yerevan just in time for dinner. The flight schedule is convenient for family trips."

With the route now open, China has full air connectivity with the three countries in the Caucasus region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, enhancing opportunities for tourism, cultural exchange, and trade cooperation, according to the airline.