Tangshan Air Base

The airport was closed due to replacement. The primary reasons for its replacement were:
1. **Urban Encroachment:** The old air base was located very close to the city center. As Tangshan expanded, the airport became an obstacle to urban development and posed noise and safety concerns.
2. **Obsolete Infrastructure:** The facility's runway was too short and its infrastructure was outdated, making it incapable of handling larger, modern passenger and cargo aircraft like the Boeing 737-800 or Airbus A320.
3. **Lack of Expansion Potential:** Surrounded by the city, there was no physical space to expand the runway or build new, modern terminal facilities.
4. **Consolidation of Operations:** A new, modern, dual-use (civil and military) airport, Tangshan Sannühe, was built at a more suitable location further from the city center, designed to meet the region's growing aviation demands for the foreseeable future.

The airport is permanently closed and is in a state of redevelopment. Satellite imagery confirms:
- The main runway and taxiways, though still visible, are marked with large white 'X's, the universal aviation symbol for a closed and unusable runway.
- The former airport grounds are being systematically reclaimed for urban development. Parts of the site have been converted into city roads, green spaces (as part of the Nanhu Park extension), and commercial or residential zones.
- While some original airport buildings or hangars may still exist in a repurposed state, the site no longer functions as an airfield in any capacity.

Tangshan Air Base was the primary airport for the city of Tangshan for many decades. Its significance includes:
- **Dual-Use Facility:** It served as a crucial base for both civil aviation and the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It handled scheduled domestic passenger flights connecting Tangshan with other major Chinese cities.
- **1976 Earthquake Relief:** The airport played an absolutely vital role in the aftermath of the devastating 1976 Tangshan earthquake. It became the primary air bridge for bringing in rescue teams, medical personnel, emergency supplies, and evacuating the wounded when road and rail lines were destroyed.
- **Military Operations:** As a PLAAF air base, it housed various military aviation units over the years, contributing to the air defense and military logistics of the region.

Effectively zero. There are no plans or prospects for reopening this airport. The city of Tangshan is now served by the modern and fully operational Tangshan Sannühe Airport (TVS/ZBSN). The land of the old air base is far more valuable for urban development, and its location is no longer suitable for aviation operations.