KUNMING, Dec. 18  -- China Eastern Airlines on Thursday launched a direct flight between Kunming, a famed tourist city in southwest China's Yunnan Province, and Paris.

The flight, Yunnan's first transcontinental air route, will be plied by an Airbus A330. It will depart from Kunming every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, finishing the 9,471-km one-way trip in nearly 13 hours, according to the airline's Yunnan branch.

Kunming, dubbed the "City of Eternal Spring," is known for its pleasant climate and picturesque landscape. Air routes connect the city with seven Southeast Asian countries and five South Asian countries.

Yunnan also boasts other popular tourist destinations, such as Dali and Lijiang, cities famed for their architecture and distinct culture.