Hanzhong Xiguan Airport

The airport was closed and replaced due to a combination of factors typical for older, city-centric airports. Its location within the expanding urban area of Hanzhong prevented necessary upgrades, such as runway extension. The existing runway was too short to accommodate larger, more common passenger jets like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, which severely limited passenger capacity and the number of potential destinations. The encroachment of the city also created significant noise pollution and safety concerns. To meet growing demand and modernize air travel for the region, the new Hanzhong Chenggu Airport was constructed at a more suitable location, leading to the planned decommissioning of Xiguan Airport.

The former airport site is undergoing a complete transformation through urban redevelopment. The land has been repurposed for a new urban district within Hanzhong's Hantai District. Most of the aviation infrastructure, including parts of the runway, taxiways, and old terminal buildings, has been demolished to make way for new city roads, residential towers, commercial centers, and public parks. The area is being fully integrated into the urban grid of Hanzhong, effectively erasing its past as an airport and turning it into a modern part of the city.

Hanzhong Xiguan Airport had a long and significant history. It was originally constructed in 1937 during the Second Sino-Japanese War, serving as a frontline military airbase for the Republic of China Air Force. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, it continued to function as a military airport for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). In the 1980s, it was converted into a dual-use (military/civilian) airport, becoming the first and only civil airport for Hanzhong for nearly three decades. It was a vital link connecting the relatively isolated Hanzhong Basin to the rest of China, handling domestic flights to cities like Xi'an and Beijing, primarily with smaller turboprop aircraft like the Xian Y-7. It played a crucial role in the economic and social development of the region until it was superseded.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Hanzhong Xiguan Airport. The closure is permanent. Its functions have been entirely replaced by the larger and more modern Hanzhong Chenggu Airport. The high-value real estate of the former airport's location within the city has been irrevocably committed to extensive and ongoing urban development projects, making any return to aviation activities physically and economically impossible.