Shanhaiguan Air Base (山海关 Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Airport)
Summary
Operating Country | 🇨🇳 China |
Location | 🇨🇳 China |
Status | ◉ Active |
Usage | Military only |
Year built | 1985 |
Year closed | 2016 |
Operating Organization | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
Description
Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Airport is a military airport located in Shanhaiguan District, Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, China. It is situated 15 kilometers from the city center. The airport was opened to civil flights on April 15, 1985, and operated as a dual-use facility until March 31, 2016. On this date, all civil flights were transferred to the newly built Qinhuangdao Beidaihe Airport, and Shanhaiguan Airport reverted to sole military use. Historically, on September 13, 1971, Marshall Lin Biao attempted to flee China from this airport. During its period of dual operation, the airport served over 20 Chinese cities and temporarily operated international flights to Yakutsk and Blagoveshchensk in Russia starting in 2007. It was expanded in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but its military status limited further growth, leading to the construction of the new civilian airport. The airport features a single runway with a length of 2,500 meters, which is a Class 4C runway capable of handling mid-sized passenger jets. It also has six aircraft parking aprons.