A hydrofoil craft will ferry passengers up and down the waters of the Three Gorges region this September.

The new ship can run at a maximum speed of 72km per hour and complete the trip from Yichang to Wanzhou in a short five hours. Previously the trip took about six hours by motorboat.

A sightseeing boat in its design, the anti-UV glass ceiling affords tourists a good view of the scenery. The temperature and humidity inside the cabin will be monitored by computer.

According to an official from Chongqing Municipality, another tourist hydrofoil craft will be in service by October.

(CRIENGLISH.com July 26, 2006)