URUMQI -- China Southern Airlines on Tuesday opened a direct air route linking the mainland's Urumqi and Taiwan's Kaohsiung city.

It is the first route linking northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Taiwan, and also the longest route between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

The maiden flight CZ6053, carrying 180 passengers, took off from Urumqi International Airport at 5:13 pm and will arrive in Kaohsiung five and a half hours later, according to a branch of China Southern Airlines in Xinjiang.

The return flight will depart from Kaohsiung at 11:55 pm with 143 Taiwanese passenger on board, the branch said.

As Xinjiang and Taiwan have made great efforts to strengthen their economic exchanges and develop tourism in recent years, the two regions have seen an increasing number of visitors and investors from each region.

It is estimated that about 30,000 people will travel from Xinjiang to Taiwan in 2013.

On April 1, China Southern Airlines will open a direct route linking Urumqi and Taipei, and tickets for this service will go on sale soon, the branch said.