A helicopter rests at No 1 Air Terminal atop Raffles City T2 Tower. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

An innovative air transport rooftop terminal has opened in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province.

Raffles City T2 Tower on Dec 30 unveiled its 56th-floor transformation into No 1 Air Terminal – making it the first rooftop terminal in East China's urban core.

The innovative facility integrates low-altitude transport and tourism services, connecting Hangzhou's administrative regions and nearby cities like Shanghai, Jiaxing and Huzhou.

The terminal offers regular and custom flights for tourism and business, bringing new opportunities for "city fly" experiences.

Since the inaugural Qiantang River sightseeing flight service debuted in October, over 400 tourists have enjoyed sweeping aerial views of Hangzhou.

Upcoming offerings include cross-year night tours over the Qiantang River and "hotel + helicopter + dining" packages – blending luxury travel with urban exploration.

Beyond tourism, the terminal is expected to boost business connectivity. Direct flights to Hangzhou International Airport will cut transit times to 10 minutes, with seamless boarding in 30 minutes.

Future routes – such as Hangzhou to Tongxiang – promise swift "headquarters-to-factory" commutes, revolutionizing corporate logistics in the region.

No 1 Air Terminal is also pioneering low-altitude services like drone logistics.

Overall, Hangzhou aims to establish a 40-minute air business network across the Yangtze River Delta, positioning itself as a hub for cutting-edge aerial mobility and boosting its role as a regional economic powerhouse.

A passenger takes snaps of Hangzhou's urban landscape during his flight to West Hangzhou Railway Station. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Editor: Cheng Dengyu