โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
150
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Xi'an Xiguan Airport is a historic aviation facility that served as Xi'an's primary airport until September 1, 1991, when all commercial operations were transferred to the new Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Originally established during World War II as Hsian Airfield, the facility served the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force with P-61 Black Widow night interceptors and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters.
The former terminal building and airport infrastructure handled domestic Chinese airline operations through CAAC in the 1970s and 1980s, featuring a 3,000-meter runway at 479 meters elevation. By the late 1980s, the facility became inadequate for Xi'an's rapidly growing tourism and business travel demands, with limited expansion possibilities constraining operations.
Following closure in 1991, the airport site underwent conversion to civilian use as a public park, preserving elements of its aviation heritage while serving the Xi'an community. The runway and terminal areas were repurposed for recreational and community activities, marking the end of nearly 50 years of aviation operations at this historic location.
Historical significance encompasses its role in wartime defense operations, development of civil aviation in Shaanxi Province, and contribution to Xi'an's growth as a major Chinese city before replacement by the larger Xianyang International Airport that better serves the region's current aviation needs.
๐ Connection Tips
Xi'an Xianyang International (SIA) is a massive hub with multiple terminals. Didi ride-sharing has designated pickup zones outside arrivals When delays ripple through the schedule, the practical plan is the onward road or domestic transfer, not the building footprint, because the airport mainly keeps Xi'an tied into the regional network. The meaningful alternates are Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, Yan'an Nanniwan Airport, which is why the backup plan matters more than the terminal amenities. Scheduled service is carried by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, so the first bank of the day is the one to watch. In practice, that means the airport works as Xi'an's time-saving link to the rest of China.
Metro Line 14 connects the airport directly to Xi'an North Railway Station (33 mins), providing onward links to the high-speed rail network At street level, the practical plan is the onward road or domestic transfer, not the building footprint, because the airport mainly keeps Xi'an tied into the regional network. The meaningful alternates are Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, Yan'an Nanniwan Airport, which is why the backup plan matters more than the terminal amenities. Scheduled service is carried by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, so the first bank of the day is the one to watch. In practice, that means the airport works as Xi'an's time-saving link to the rest of China.
If connecting from an international flight, allow at least 3 hours to manage immigration, terminal transfers (e. g., to the newer T5), and security re-clearing For a clean handoff, the practical plan is the onward road or domestic transfer, not the building footprint, because the airport mainly keeps Xi'an tied into the regional network. The meaningful alternates are Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, Yan'an Nanniwan Airport, which is why the backup plan matters more than the terminal amenities. Scheduled service is carried by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, so the first bank of the day is the one to watch. In practice, that means the airport works as Xi'an's time-saving link to the rest of China.
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 Xi'an Xiguan Airport