Helicopter Tour Debuts in Shenzhen

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 ◆ Helicopter Tour Debuts in Shenzhen

Fly with a helicopter to get a bird's-eye view over Shenzhen situated on the border between Guangdong and Hong Kong is no longer a dream for tourists coming to this southern Chinese city. The helicopter tour opened to the public in December 2002. The two Mi-171 helicopters in service are of world-advanced model put into operation in the end of 2000. Equipped with three engines and modern electronic navigation devices, each of them can carry 26 passengers. Taking off from the Nantou Helicopter Airport, the helicopter flies over the seashore of Shekou, Window on the World in Overseas Chinese Town, the downtown area of Shenzhen and the wild animal zoo before landing at the airport, covering 46-48 kilometers. During the flight of 10-12 minutes, passengers can admire the landscapes and scenic spots from the altitude of 300 meters in the air. It costs 268 yuan (US$32.4) per person and tickets are available at local travel agencies. Helicopter sightseeing flights in China have been under strict control of General Administration of Civil Aviation of China. So far, only a small number of cities, such as Zhuhai and Shenzhen, conduct this kind of business. Shenzhen was the first Chinese city to get the approval. by Wang Zhiyong