Chinese woman completes first half of flight around world, makes stop in home province

Chen Jingxian, 31, is a private airplane pilot. On Sept. 6, Chen successfully landed in Chengdu, Sichuan province, marking the end of the first half of her flight around the world. Flying in a tiny single-engine piston airplane, Chen took off from Cleveland, Ohio on Aug. 1 to begin her around-the-world journey.

Born in Neijiang, Sichuan province, Chen went to study in Beijing when she was 18. There, she read classic flight narratives like "Wind, Sand and Stars" and "Night Flight", both written by French pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupery. These books inspired Chen's own flying dream.

Chen left Beijing in 2011 and went to New York to earn her law degree. Around that time, she also set about learning to fly airplanes. After several years of study and practice, she successfully obtained a private pilot license.

With half her journey behind her, Chen's next stop will be Japan.