Direct flights between Shanghai and Venice in Italy will be launched by China Eastern Airlines on September 26, the Shanghai-based carrier said on Friday.

Running every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, the flight will take about 13 hours to reach Venice's Marco Polo International Airport from Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Tickets are already available on the official website of China Eastern as well as on the airline's app.

Situated in northeast of Italy, Venice is known as the economic center and tourist city of the European country. And the city is particularly familiar to Chinese as the hometown of Marco Polo, an Italian merchant and explorer who introduced China to Europe centuries ago.

With the launch of the new direct flight, more people would be able to travel between the two cities more conveniently, and tourists from Venice could explore the international metropolis or transit with the new flight.

China waived visa requirements for Italian visitors in May, and the visa-free policy to Italy will be effective until December 31, 2025. Ordinary passport holders from the country can enjoy visa-free travel to China for up to 15 days.