โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
75
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Beijing Nanyuan Airport (NAY) was the oldest airport in China, serving as a secondary hub for the capital city until its official closure to commercial traffic in September 2019. The terminal was a functional and historic facility that primarily handled domestic flights operated by China United Airlines. it played a critical role in Beijing's aviation history, serving as a base for military and government aviation for over a century.
Inside the terminal, passengers experienced a more compact and traditional airport environment compared to the massive Beijing Capital International Airport. Facilities included standard check-in counters, basic waiting lounges, and a selection of retail and dining options offering local Chinese snacks and refreshments. The airport was known for its efficiency and shorter processing times for domestic travelers, making it a popular choice for those looking to avoid the congestion of the city's larger international hubs.
Following its closure, all commercial operations were transferred to the new Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). The Nanyuan site remains a significant historical landmark and continues to serve as a military airbase. Ground transportation to the city center was readily available via airport shuttle buses and local taxis, providing convenient access to the southern districts of Beijing. It remains an essential part of China's aviation heritage, marking the transition from early air travel to the modern era of massive international hubs.
๐ Connection Tips
Beijing Nanyuan Airport (NAY) is not a live passenger airport anymore, so the only useful connection advice is to avoid going there for a commercial flight. China United's commercial operations moved away years ago, and a passenger trying to self-transfer to NAY today would be heading to the wrong side of Beijing for no reason. Do not rely on old map pins, old travel-blog screenshots, or cached itinerary tools that still surface NAY, because they can still appear online despite the airport's closure to commercial traffic.
Civilian operations ended when Beijing Daxing International Airport opened on September 25, 2019, and Beijing's current official airport guidance focuses travelers on PKX and PEK. For modern trip planning, decide first whether your actual flight uses Beijing Daxing or Beijing Capital and then build your rail, subway, or road connection around that airport instead.
That matters especially in Beijing, where the difference between PKX and PEK is not a small terminal choice but a major citywide transfer issue. If an old itinerary reference, third-party ticketing screen, or cached map entry still shows NAY, treat it as stale information and verify the departure airport directly with the airline before you travel. In practical terms, NAY belongs in the database as a historical airport entry, not as an active self-transfer point, and the safest connection strategy is simply to ignore it and confirm the real airport code before leaving for the terminal.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Aral Talim Airport (ACF), with ICAO code ZWAL, is a modern public airport located in Tanan, about 12 kilometers south of Aral in Xinjiang, China. It opened on June 16, 2022, making it a relatively new regional facility designed to improve connectivity for the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The airport operates from a single compact terminal building of about 4,509 square meters and includes six gates for passenger operations.
The terminal layout is simple, with check-in, security, and departure areas all located within one structure. This keeps walking distances short and makes navigation straightforward. Most passengers can move from the entrance to their gate in just a few minutes, which is helpful given the airport's regional role.
Security procedures at ACF follow Chinese aviation standards, including screening of carry-on bags, checked baggage, and passengers. Because the airport handles mainly domestic traffic and moderate volumes, waits are usually manageable. International immigration and customs facilities are not available on site, so those formalities must be completed at larger gateway airports in China when traveling internationally.
๐ Connection Tips
Connecting through Aral Talim Airport involves navigating China's newest desert aviation facility opened June 16, 2022, as the first airport built on collapsible loess geology serving the Tarim River Basin from its strategic position 12 kilometers south of Aral in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps region. The Category 4C airport's 2,800-meter runway accommodates Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 aircraft supporting 16 planned domestic routes designed to handle 300,000 passengers, 1,100 tons of cargo, and 3,200 flights annually while integrating this remote region into the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative.
Domestic connections focus on major Chinese aviation hubs with China Southern Airlines operating Shanghai routes (flight CZ5566) while regional carriers including Tianjin Airlines, Urumqi Air, and China Express Airlines provide connectivity throughout Xinjiang and western China. The primary gateway for onward connections remains รrรผmqi Diwopu International Airport located 850 kilometers north, offering comprehensive domestic coverage and international services to Central Asia, while eastern connections through Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi'an enable access to China's extensive high-speed rail network and international gateway airports.
Ground transportation from the compact 4,509-square-meter terminal includes taxi services covering the 12-kilometer journey to Aral city center in 15 minutes for ยฅ20-30 ($3-4 USD), while the airport's location in the Tarim Basin desert requires consideration of frequent dust storms from April through September affecting visibility and flight operations. The facility's modern infrastructure includes six gates and parking positions supporting regional economic development for agricultural exports from this cotton-producing region, while serving the strategic military and economic interests of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Weather considerations in this extreme continental desert climate include temperature variations from -20ยฐC in winter to 40ยฐC in summer, requiring flexible scheduling for connections through this remote outpost supporting China's Belt and Road Initiative connectivity goals in Central Asia's borderlands.
โ Back to Beijing Nanyuan Airport