A direct flight between Chengdu of China and Sochi of Russia is scheduled to open in the first half of 2017, said Anatoliy Nikolayevich Pakhomov on Wednesday local time.

Pakhomov made the announcement at a promotional event by a tourism delegation from Chengdu.

The flight will shorten the trip between the two cities to eight hours.

Sochi’s vice mayor was deeply impressed by Chengdu during his brief stay in the city to promote Sochi’s tourism resources, said Pakhomov, hoping more Chengdu people will come to visit Sochi with the opening of the direct flight.