New airport starts operation in China's 'red tourism' city

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A new airport went into operation on Thursday in Yan'an, a tourist city in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The first flight from Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, arrived at the city's Nanniwan Airport around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. The old airport in the city is out of service.

The new airport is located in the southwestern suburb of the city, 13 km away from the city center. The terminal of the airport covers 13,000 square meters. The airport has seven gate positions and a 3,000-meter-long runway with a width of 45 meters.

People perform a local dance to celebrate the opening of the new airport in Yan'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, November 8, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

After 11 years of planning, preparation and construction work, builders have overcome a series of difficulties to successfully build the new airport on collapsible loess area.

Xue Zhanhai, mayor of Yan'an, said the new airport will help the city further open to the outside world and promote local economic development.

The Memorial Square of Serving the People at Zaoyuan, in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, October 18, 2018 /VCG Photo

Yan'an, a famous revolutionary base that hosted the Communist Party of China (CPC) headquarters and the center of the Chinese Communist Revolution from 1935 to 1948, has become a hot tourist destination.

"Red tourism" has blossomed in the city, which boasts over 350 sites related to the revolution. "Red tourism," featuring visits to historical sites with a revolutionary legacy, has gained great popularity in China in recent years.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency