HARBIN -- A new flight between Harbin, capital of the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, and Taichung City, Taiwan, was launched on Wednesday.

Taiwan's Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT) operates the new route, with one direct round-trip a week. FAT operates several routes linking the island with mainland cities including Chengdu, Wuhan and Qingdao.

The MD-83 aircraft will depart every Thursday at 7 am from Taichung City and arrive at Harbin at 10:40 am. The return flight leaves Harbin at 11:40 am and arrives at Taichung City at 3:30 pm the same day.

This will be the second direct air route from Harbin to Taiwan following one launched in 2004.