The first air route linking Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia, was opened on Dec. 1.  

A Fokker-50 passenger plane is used to fly between the two cities on Mondays and Thursdays. Travelers depart Ulan Bator at 8:30 a.m. (local time) and arrive at the Baita Airport of Hohhot at 10:30. Then the plane returns at 11:30 the same day.

This is the first direct air route between the two cities even though Inner Mongolia is adjacent to Mongolia. Travelers used to go by train or fly via other cities.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2003)