On April 9, a charter flight carrying 125 South Korean tourists arrived at Huangshan Tunxi International Airport for a four-night, five-day tour. This marks the airport's second international passenger route in 2025, following Kuala Lumpur.

From April 9 to June 18, the Seoul-Huangshan charter will operate every Wednesday and Saturday for a total of 21 flights. 

South Korea has long been an important source of tourists to Huangshan, but a 370 percent-surge in Korean visitors in 2024 has made it the single largest source of tourists to the city. China's expanded 240-hour visa-free transit policy, which has included Huangshan as a port since late 2024, has further boosted global arrivals. 

Kim Daeyong, GM of Mode Tour China, highlighted Huangshan's hiking trails, sunrise views, and Huizhou culture - from inkstone workshops to ancient villages like Hongcun - as major draws for young Koreans and hikers. "This route will double Korean arrivals in 2025," he said, pledging to expand cultural itineraries. 

To deepen ties, Huangshan has partnered with several Korean agencies, set up Mode Tour's local office in the city in 2024, and participated in Anhui's March 2025 promotion in Seoul. Additional routes from Busan and Cheongju are planned, alongside efforts to resume regular Seoul flights. Leveraging visa-free policies, Huangshan aims to attract young Koreans via integrated itineraries with Shanghai's weekend tours.