Flight CZ6047 left Harbin Taiping International Airport on Sunday morning, bound for Hong Kong in the first regular direct flight from Heilongjiang's provincial capital to the special administrative region in South China.

The inaugural flight carried 131 passengers — an occupancy rate exceeding 80 percent — according to the Heilongjiang branch of China Southern Airlines, which will operate the route on Thursdays and Sundays.

"Since the National Immigration Administration opened individual tourist endorsements for Hong Kong and Macao for eight cities on the Chinese mainland, including Harbin, from May 27, the number of passenger inquiries has increased significantly," said Zhuang Shuji, the branch's deputy general manager. "The whole trip takes around five hours. Compared to transferring through a third location or passing through the Shenzhen land border checkpoint in Guangdong province, the flight can help passengers save at least two to three hours."

Harbin college teacher Zhou Yanhua said she is looking forward to the upcoming summer vacation.

"My daughter is working in Hong Kong," Zhou said. "In the past, I usually chose to transfer in Beijing, which cost me at least seven hours. Now the direct flight will save me more time and provide a more comfortable experience."

China Southern Airlines now operates six routes from Harbin to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Harbin immigration station has formulated plans with airlines to ensure smooth border crossings and has also opened inspection channels to improve efficiency.