SHIJIAZHUANG, Nov. 4  -- A direct flight will be launched on Jan. 18 to link Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province and Osaka of Japan.

It will be the first direct air route that links the two cities, according to Hebei Airlines, the operator of the flight.

The outbound flight will depart from Shijiazhuang once a day at 3:50 p.m. and arrive in Osaka at 8:10 p.m., while the returning flight will leave Osaka at 9:10 p.m. and land in Shijiazhuang at 0:10 a.m. local time.

Osaka is the second largest city in Japan and a famous tourist city. The opening of the air route is expected to provide a new travel option for travelers from the two countries and promote bilateral trade and cultural exchange.