Beginning July 17, it will be possible to fly from Kunming directly to Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, according to a China Hospitality News report.

The thrice-weekly flights to Kathmandu will depart Kunming every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

The Kunming-Kathmandu route is the third direct flight from Kunming to a South Asian city. There are already flights from Kunming to Kolkata, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The new route is the third international flight added by China Eastern's Yunnan branch this year. The branch airline has also launched flights from Kunming to Siam Reap, Cambodia and Phuket, Thailand this year.

South Asia is one of the fastest growing trade partners for Yunnan – Kunming now hosts an annual South Asian Commodities Expo alongside the Kunming Fair.

Airfare for the new route has yet to be released. For information about Nepal visas, check the Nepalese Department of Immigration website.

Kathmandu image: journals.worldnomads.com