Only works when you have absolute control of the roads.
"You" are the top leadership of China and "you" have complete cooperation from the city's traffic management system and the local police force. Why would they not have absolute control of the roads?
That I did not know but it limits to only where the tunnels exit or enter.
It exits to other transportation hubs like the Airport (and perhaps also to some bunker-command center). China is large and most destinations would justify using a government jet. You don't need tunnels that connect directly to your destination, that is not a limit.
So is DC. Heck DC is literally Swamp land. That assumes direct access from inside the start of transit to end destination.
So DC's problem with smog and sandstorm is as bad as Beijing? That's not what I've heard.
helicopter cops are faster than road travel and mean having to expend less resources controlling roads.
Use the local armed police to control traffic vs. ferry multiple large helicopters for 1000+ km and then back (and that distance is just for visiting Shanghai, if you're visiting Chengdu, Lhasa or Guangzhou on the other hand......), you're telling me the second option use less resources?
By the way, you do know the entourage of a state level leader cannot be fitted into a Z-9 or even a Z-15/Z-20, right? I doubt they can even fit the team into one of their Super Puma or an AC313, unless you're giving up VIP treatment for economy class.
Depends on the Trip. The President of the US for example can make the whole trip from the Rose garden to the UN HQ for a speech and be back in time for supper. So Does a Road trip not counting the additional security along the way. Just need a flat surface, They added a Padd to the Kremlin, The White house just uses the Rose garden, So does the Queen of England. A Helicopter can land just about anywhere from a building rooftop to a parking lot.
Additionally you make an error here "close enough to Beijing" The Z9 is based on the Eurocopter EC155 that has a operational range of over 500 miles. that means it could travel 250 miles from Beijing
That covers
China - Hebei - Langfang 32 miles South-southeast
China - Tianjin Municipality - Tianjin 70 miles Southeast
China - Hebei - Baoding 87 miles Southwest
China - Hebei - Tangshan 97 miles East
China - Shanxi - Datong 165 miles West
China - Hebei - Shijiazhuang 166 miles Southwest
China - Hebei - Qinhuangdao 170 miles East
China - Shandong - Jinan 226 miles South
China - Shandong - Zibo 233 miles South-southeast
China - Hebei - Handan 250 miles South-southwest
And These are limiting to 250 miles based on no refuel and that is me rounding down.
Well if they move the UN HQ to Tianjin or Dalian then it would be comparable. For now the Chinese leadership has no reason to frequently visit locations that are best suited for helicopter range. Most destinations within China are at jet range, the list you posted is just a very limited set of destinations that contain no major points of political interest like the UN HQ. One has to appreciate the size of China here.
How? you don't need a escort or to redirect traffic. and as to less flexible the only issues are fuel
So I guess you're not familiar with airliner operations? You don't just get a GPS coordinate, gauge your fuel level, and then fly there. You need to have things planned, memorize your charts, have your routes cleared by the ATC, have weather en-route taken into account, have all the emergency backup plans ready, and the pilots should be familiar with the route and the locations, preferably try it a few times before their actual mission if they're not landing at an airport. This is true not just for commercial jets but also for helicopters, because we're talking about VIP level safety, not hobbyist flying or combat missions which could tolerate higher risks.
So believe it or not, if you require a high level of safety, planning an air route is less flexible than traveling in a minibus with escorts and traffic control along the way. It may not be true in Iraq, but it is true in China where the land is generally safe and the security forces are competent.
Not to mention helicopters, no matter how luxurious, are less comfortable. A VIP-config minibus is cheaper, quieter, and offers more stable ride. It is generally a better environment for work discussions or taking a nap.
Except if that local helicopter is needed for heli rescue you have just lost it so some VVIP can make a show.
Oh come on, the PLA is under-equipped in helicopters but they're not THAT under-equipped. It is not like they only have one usable helicopter in every army aviation or AF units.
Besides, if it is really that bad (it is not), then it only further justifies the leadership's preference for minibuses rather than helicopters, for they should act as role models in cost-saving and pour more money into equipping military helicopters.
Now as to
