SHENZHEN, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hainan Airlines on Friday launched a direct flight between the city of Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province and Paris.

Two round trips are scheduled every week on Mondays and Fridays. The outbound flight leaves Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport at 1:15 a.m. Beijing time and arrives at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 7:15 a.m. local time.

The return flight departs Paris at 11:35 a.m. and arrives in Shenzhen at 5:55 a.m. Beijing time the following day.

The air route, operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, is the first direct flight linking the two cities.

The launch of the new route will further promote the political, economic and cultural exchanges between China and France, said Pascal Millard, an economic counselor with the French consulate in Guangzhou.

Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport has opened 15 new international routes this year, connecting Shenzhen with nine overseas cities, including London, Madrid, Vancouver, and Brussels. So far, the airport has launched air routes to a total of 45 overseas cities.

Paris has been one of the top destinations in Europe for Chinese tourists. Last year, Chinese tourists made a total of 1.1 million visits to Paris.