A flight route connecting the Pudong District of Shanghai and Shangri-la, a famous tourist site in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of southwest China's Yunnan Province was opened on Sunday, which will shorten the travel time between the two cities and boost each other's development.

Shanghai's three districts of Jiading, Minhang and Baoshan gave relevant support to three counties and cities in Diqing Prefecture to help lift them out of poverty. With the opening of the new flight route, Shanghai can continue to help Diqing consolidate the poverty alleviation efforts in the future.

"The opening of this route plays a positive role in improving Shanghai's support for Diqing on medical treatment, education, construction and other aspects," said Lu Wansong, director of the business management department of the Diqing Shangri-la Airport.

In addition, since Shanghai is an important tourist source for Diqing, the opening of the flight route will also further deepen tourism exchanges between Diqing with Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta region, which is one of the most developed regions in China, boosting tourism development of Diqing.