China's domestically developed AS700 civil manned airship completed its first long-distance, cross-provincial flight on Wednesday, according to its developer – the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Covering nearly 1,000 kilometers, the AS700 set a new record for flight endurance and range for a Chinese-built manned airship, said the AVIC.

Developed by the AVIC's Special Vehicle Research Institute, the AS700 is a single-capsule airship designed to carry up to 10 people, including a pilot. It has a maximum take-off weight of 4,150 kilograms, a flight range of 700 kilometers and can remain airborne for up to 10 hours. 

This eco-friendly, low-carbon aircraft is both safe and economical, with the versatility to perform short-distance flights as well as vertical take-offs and landings.

The AS700 began its journey on Tuesday morning from an airport in Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province. It flew across neighboring Hunan Province, making two stopovers at local airports, before safely landing in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Wednesday afternoon.

The journey lasted a total of 12 hours and 44 minutes, with flight altitudes ranging between 500 and 1,990 meters and speeds between 60 and 80 kilometers per hour. During this flight, the development team primarily tested the airship's own performance as well as its long-endurance and long-range ferry flight capabilities. Additional tests, including passenger comfort trials, are planned to further evaluate its readiness for commercial use.

Scheduled to be delivered this year, the AS700 is expected to enter commercial operations, with potential applications in low-altitude tourism, transportation, mapping and emergency rescue missions.