Bedecked with the Chinese national flag, China's domestically developed C909 passenger jet completed the first international commercial flight on Tuesday.
Carrying 74 passengers, the plane took off at about 08:00 from Hohhot Baita International Airport in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and headed to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar of Mongolia.
"I'm traveling abroad for the first time, and it just happens to be the maiden international flight of the homegrown aircraft. I feel really lucky and proud," said a passenger.
"It's a moment of national pride. This truly showcases the significant progress in China's aviation industry," said another.
After a smooth flight of just over an hour, the plane arrived in Mongolia, where it was greeted with a ceremonial water salute, the highest honor in aviation.
"It's a great honor to captain the C909 bedecked with the Chinese national flag on its first international mission. We conducted a comprehensive operational risk assessment for the route, taking into account aircraft performance, airspace structure, airport operating standards, and meteorological conditions to formulate a precision flight plan accordingly," said Liu Yongguang, captain of the flight.
The C909 celebrated the 9th anniversary of its maiden flight on Saturday. A total of 166 C909 aircraft have been delivered to the market, which have operated on more than 700 routes and transported over 24 million passengers.
China's C909 starts first int'l commercial flight to Mongolia
China has overtaken North America to become the world's top-grossing film market so far in 2026, with box office revenue reaching 7 billion yuan (about 970 million U.S. dollars) as of Saturday, slightly above North America's 938 million U.S. dollars, according to online ticketing platforms.
The country's strong box office performance has largely been driven by its ongoing Spring Festival holiday, which began on Feb 15. So far, China's holiday ticketing revenue has exceeded 4.4 billion yuan, contributing over half of its total earnings this year.
During the nine-day holiday, a wide range of blockbuster films across different genres and themes premiered in theaters across China, providing the perfect backdrop for family reunions and festive fun.
Topping the Spring Festival sales chart was "Pegasus 3," the third installment in director Han Han's racing-comedy franchise starring Shen Teng, one of China's most bankable comedic actors. The film has amassed more than two billion yuan since its debut.
The first two films in the series were released during the 2019 and 2024 Spring Festival seasons, grossing a combined 5 billion yuan.
Spy thriller "Scare Out," directed by Zhang Yimou, ranked second on the chart with 701 million yuan in box office revenue. It was followed by the martial arts action film "Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert," which grossed 577 million yuan.
In east China's Jiangsu Province, holidaymakers said watching movies has become a popular way to enjoy family gatherings and social interactions during the Spring Festival.
"The Spring Festival is a bond that brings the whole family together. Taking advantage of this occasion, our family gets together to watch a movie, enjoying a warm and happy time," said Jiang Hong, a moviegoer.
"The cinemas are packed. Sitting in the screening room, surrounded by laughter, the atmosphere of everyone celebrating the festival together is truly wonderful. Plus, going to the movies is an activity that the whole family can do together. I think this is the essence of the Chinese New Year," said Ms. Ying, a local resident.
"When watching a movie, we all get together and immerse ourselves in a shared virtual world. Although we don't communicate during the film, we can always exchange our thoughts afterwards. It is a great choice [for festive celebration]," said Luo Pingchuan, another moviegoer.
China becomes global box office champion so far in 2026
