China starts work on high altitude airport

Work has started on a new airport in a mountainous region of China's Sichuan province. Xinhua reported that the new Daocheng Yading Airport lies 4,410 meters above sea-level, and will serve the Yading National Reserve - an alpine region popular with domestic tourists. The new hub, which is being developed at a cost of CNY1.5 billion (US$237 million), will feature a single terminal building, a 4,200-meter runway and a hotel. It will be able to handle up to 500,000 passengers per year. Upon completion in 2013, it is expected to connect with cities in Western China such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Guiyang and Xi'an.

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