A new direct flight route connecting Beijing and Oslo was launched on Saturday, with three weekly round-trip flights operated by Hainan Airlines.
The new air route, linking the capitals of China and Norway, operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, providing more convenient access for visitors and fostering greater exchanges across various fields between the two countries.
"The Oslo route makes its maiden flight this Saturday, with three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The flight time is around ten hours. This is currently the only direct flight linking Beijing and Oslo in China," Zhang Naifu, deputy director of Marketing at Hainan Airlines, said during the launch event.
Henning Kristoffersen, commercial counsellor at the Norwegian Embassy in China, highlighted the significance of the new route.
"I think it has great significance. This shortens the distance between our two countries, and I think it will increase very much the traveling both from Norway to China, and of course, Chinese travelers to Norway. So, the exchanges in different areas will only increase, I think," said Kristoffersen.
Oslo, Norway's largest city and capital, is a key political, economic, and cultural hub, housing the country's biggest port, as well as the Norwegian royal family and government. It is also the first Nordic nation to be granted visa-free access to China.
"I think everything is going in the right direction. Visa-free means a lot because the whole process of traveling becomes so much easier. You can [go] quicker through the whole process, but also, in combination with this direct flight, I think that's a massive improvement," said Kristoffersen.
Since last November, China has expanded its visa-free policies, making it easier for visitors from multiple countries to enter the country. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, more than 20 million international visitors have entered China under these policies since last year, a 110 percent increase from the previous year.
The launch of this new direct route is part of a broader trend, as more domestic carriers, including China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines also set to launch new international services.
New Beijing-Oslo direct flight route launched
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
