Minggugong airport

The airport was closed due to a planned replacement and urban development. Its central location within the growing city of Nanjing made expansion impossible, and its runway and facilities were inadequate for the larger and more advanced aircraft of the post-WWII era. A new, larger, and more modern facility, Nanjing Dajiaochang Airport, was constructed to serve as the city's primary military and civilian airport, rendering Minggugong obsolete.

The former airport site has been completely redeveloped and no longer exists as an aviation facility. The land has been repurposed and is now home to several key landmarks. The majority of the site is the Ming Palace Ruins Park (明故宫遗址公园), a public park and protected historical site preserving the foundations of the ancient palace. The main north-south runway has been converted into a major public road, Yudao Street (御道街). Additionally, a portion of the former airport grounds is now part of the campus for the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, continuing the area's legacy in aviation through education.

Minggugong Airport holds significant historical importance as the first airport in Nanjing. It was constructed in 1927 on the grounds of the historic Ming Dynasty Imperial Palace ruins. During the period when Nanjing was the capital of the Republic of China (1927-1949), Minggugong was the nation's most important airport. It served as a critical base for the Chinese Air Force and was the main hub for early civilian airlines, including the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) and Eurasia Aviation Corporation. The airport was a central stage for major events during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. It handled all official government flights, military operations, and the nascent commercial air traffic connecting the capital to the rest of China and the world.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Minggugong Airport. The site is now a protected historical park and a densely populated urban area. Re-establishing an airport here is physically impossible and culturally inappropriate given the historical significance of the Ming Palace ruins. Nanjing's modern aviation needs are served by the Nanjing Lukou International Airport (IATA: NKG, ICAO: ZSNJ), a major international airport located well outside the city center.