Yinchuan Xihuayuan Airport

Yinchuan Xihuayuan Airport was the former main airport of Yinchuan, Ningxia, China. It was built on orders of Ningxia governor Ma Hongkui in 1935 as a military airport with a gravel runway. The airport was closed from September 1949 to September 1958.^[1] In 1958, the airport was renovated to welcome the establishment of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, of which Yinchuan became the capital. After the renovation, the Xihuayuan Airport had a gravel runway with a length of 1415 meters and a width of 40 meters.^[2] On 20 October 1958, a CAAC Il-14 passenger plane landed at the airport, marking the official resumption of flights at the airport.^[3][4][5]

Yinchuan Xihuayuan Airport 银川西花园机场
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Opened	1935
Closed	September 1997
Coordinates	38.501282°N 106.144622°E / 38.501282; 106.144622
Map
Location of the former airport in Yinchuan
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 18/36 7,087 2,160 Gravel

In September 1986, the airport was expanded and became a 3C-class airport, being able to handle aircraft like the BAe 146 under 50 tons.^[6] The airport ceased operations in September 1997 due to the facilities being in need of upgrading and lack of expansion room. Its function was taken over by Yinchuan Hedong Airport.^[7]

The airport was the only airport in China serving a provincial capital that still had a gravel runway. At night, the runway was lit using lanterns, and during the rainy season the airport would often flood.^[8]

The airport terminal was preserved as a protected cultural heritage site by the Yinchuan Cultural Relics Department.^[1]

Airlines and Destinations

Airlines	Destinations
CAAC	Baotou, Beijing, Lanzhou/Gongxingdun, Lanzhou/Zhongchuan
China Northwest Airlines	Beijing/Capital, Foshan, Taiyuan, Xi'an/Xiguan, Xi'an/Xianyang

Accidents

On July 23, 1993, China Northwest Airlines Flight 2119 crashed into a lake and broke apart while attempting its second takeoff from the airport. At least 59 of the 113 persons aboard the aircraft were killed.^[9]