Mishan Yonghong Airport

The primary reason for the closure of Mishan Yonghong Airport was its replacement by the new, larger, and more modern Jixi Xingkaihu Airport (IATA: JXA, ICAO: ZYJX), which opened in 2009. The old Mishan airport had outdated infrastructure, a short runway, and limited capacity, making it unsuitable for modern jet aircraft and growing passenger demand. Consolidating regional air services at the new, better-equipped facility rendered the old airport obsolete and economically unviable.

The airport is permanently closed to all aviation traffic. An analysis of recent satellite imagery reveals that the site has been repurposed. The former runway, taxiways, and apron areas are now used as a large-scale vehicle driving test and training facility. Painted lines for driving maneuvers, such as parallel parking, three-point turns, and slaloms, are clearly visible on the tarmac. This is a common form of redevelopment for small, defunct airports in China.

Mishan Yonghong Airport was a regional civil aviation airport that played a crucial role in connecting the county-level city of Mishan and the surrounding areas to the rest of Heilongjiang province. During its operational years, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, it was served by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It primarily handled short-haul domestic flights with small turboprop aircraft, such as the Xian Y-7. A typical route was Harbin-Mishan, providing an essential transportation link before the development of modern expressways and the new regional airport. Its existence was vital for the economic and social development of this border region with Russia.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen Mishan Yonghong Airport for aviation purposes. The air transportation needs of Jixi Prefecture, including Mishan, are fully met by the Jixi Xingkaihu Airport. Given the repurposing of the site as a driving school and the significant investment in the new airport, the prospect of reopening the old facility is effectively zero.