To avoid traffic jams during rush hour after he finishes work, Zeng Daxia, a civil servant in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, flies directly home using a motorized paragliding apparatus. The trip takes only one minute.

Zeng's apartment complex, which conveniently has a large platform that is ideal for landing, is across a river from his place of work. After Zeng clocks out, he invites his friends to fly home with him.

"When I'm at work, I'm very serious. But when I wear my helmet, I become another person," Zeng told Changsha-based CZT Today on Tuesday.

Zeng, 42, used to parachute competitively, and currently works as a civil servant.

"When I was young, I flew all over the country to participate in all kinds of competitions. Now, I have my own paragliding club in Zhuzhou. That's nice for me," he said.

There are about a dozen members in the club, and eight of them fly regularly. Members have different occupations such as project manager and civil servant. One member, Zhong Bo, coaches the others and has received specialized training in paragliding.

Many residents think the group's hobby is too expensive, but the members don't agree. The cost of a motorized paragliding apparatus ranges from 30,000 yuan ($4,815) to 60,000 yuan, according to the newspaper.

Club members like to take a 15-minute flight over to Shiyan Lake, a famous scenic spot that is about 20 kilometers away from Zhuzhou, according to Zhong.

"It's more convenient than riding in a car," Zhong said.

CZT Today