An air route connecting the Japanese capital Tokyo with Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, is scheduled to open on July 18 to cater for the growing number of tourists to Sichuan.

This will be the third air route linking Chengdu with Japan. The first two air routes began operating in March and April this year.

Sichuan Province is endowed with numerous scenic spots including Hailuogou, the biggest glacier in China, the sitting Buddha statue at Leshan City, and Mt Emei, one of the four mountain ranges in China held sacred by Buddhists. Four Sichuan places have been designated as world heritage sites.

Official statistics show that the number of Japanese visitors to Sichuan has increased from 48,000 in 2000 to last year's 91,300, up 87 percent.

When the new route opens, 13 shuttle flights will run between Chengdu and major Japanese cities each week.

( People's Daily June 7, 2002)