At 9:52 am on August 18, Flight JD5323 took off from Beijing Daxing Airport and smoothly landed at the Biancheng Airport in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
The plane was welcomed with a water cannon salute, marking the official operation of the direct flight route from Beijing to Xiangxi. This signifies that Xiangxi, the birthplace of the idea of "targeted poverty alleviation", has entered the era of aviation.
In anticipation of the first batch of "air passengers," people of all ethnic groups in Xiangxi Prefecture beat drums and sang folk songs. The passionate melody of "Xiangxi Takes Flight" resonated through the sky.
Photo/Fu Cong
More than 60 villager representatives from Shibadong Village in Huayuan County, including delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress, deputies to the National People's Congress, members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, outstanding individuals in poverty alleviation campaign, national model workers, national role models, and representatives who have made significant contributions to airport construction, all gathered to witness the arrival of the "aviation era" in Xiangxi.
"From highways to high-speed railways, and now to 'air routes', we will write a new chapter of 'carrying tea leaves to Beijing' in the changing three-dimensional transportation pattern," said Long Xianwen, Party branch secretary of Niujiaoshan Village in Guzhang County, who is also a deputy to the 13th and 14th National People's Congress.
Photo/Long Quan
Xiangxi Biancheng Airport is a feeder airport for domestic tourism with the highest altitude in Hunan, the most beautiful natural scenery, the strongest ethnic characteristics, and the most practical facilities. The airport is located in Laotianping Village, Huayuan Town, Huayuan County, about 30 kilometers away from the city center of Jishou. The airfield area class is 4C. The airport covers 235 hectares, with a total investment of nearly 2.9 billion CNY. Its terminal building covers 11,000 square meters, and the runway is 2,600 meters long, with five aircraft stands. It can handle landings and takeoffs of various aircraft types, such as Boeing 738 and Airbus A321. It was designed with an annual capacity of 300,000 passenger trips and 450 tons of cargos. It is expected to handle 3,571 takeoffs and landings.
Photo/Fu Cong
At present, Xiangxi Biancheng Airport has opened flights between Beijing Daxing Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. It will also open routes to major hub airports such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Xi'an, as well as routes to feeder airports within the province. A core urban channel connecting the north and the south and linking the east with the west has been established, and an air transportation network is initially formed.
Xiangxi Prefecture has launched the "Visiting Xiangxi by Air" tourism promotion activities. On the day of the opening of the airport, passengers arriving at Xiangxi Biancheng Airport will enjoy free lifetime entry to the scenic areas in Xiangxi. Major scenic spots, travel agencies, and hotels in Xiangxi are gearing up for the integration of aviation and tourism.
This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Xiao Juan
Chinese source: hunantoday
