Xi'an Xiguan Airport

SIA

Location of airport in China

Xi'an Xiguan Airport (IATA: SIA, ICAO: ZLSN) was an airport that served Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province. It was the city's main airport until it was replaced by the newly opened Xi'an Xianyang International Airport on 1 September 1991.^[2][3]

History

The Xi'an Xiguan Airfield was built in 1924 under the directives of Zhang Xueliang of the Fengtian Army, and as the Chinese warlord battles raged, Feng Yuxiang and Yan Xishan sought to subjugate the Nationalist government of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek; the Young Marshall however sided with the Nationalists, and the Nationalist Chinese Air Force units began their stationing at Xi'an Xiguan Airfield, specifically the 6th Reconnaissance-Attack/Scout-Attack Group composed of O2U-1 light-attack/scout-bombers in 1929–30, which were deployed in the Central Plains War.^{[citation needed]} During the War of Resistance-World War II,^[4] the airport was known as Hsian Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as part of the China Defensive Campaign (1942–1945). The Americans used the airport primarily as a photo-reconnaissance airfield, with unarmed P-38 Lightnings, equipped with aerial cameras flew over Japanese-held territory providing intelligence to the Chinese ground forces. In addition, P-61 Black Widow night interceptor aircraft flew from the airport, providing defense against night bombing raids by the Japanese, along with P-47 Thunderbolts day fighters and C-47 Skytrain transports flying in supplies and ammunition to support friendly forces in the area. The Americans closed their facilities at the airport after the end of the war in September 1945.^[5][6]

By the 1980s, the airport was too small to handle rapid increase of local and foreign tourists and the terminal grew inadequate and the airport could no longer expand. On September 1, 1991, the airport was closed and all the flights and vehicles left at the airport were transferred to the new Xianyang Airport. The site of the airport was then converted into a civil park.

Former airlines and destinations

Some Airlines operated in Xi'an Xiguan Airport in the 1970s and 1980s, particularly Chinese airlines, such as CAAC. Before 1991, it was also a hub for China Northwest Airlines.

See also

• List of airports in China
• List of defunct international airports

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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Xi'an

Districts

• Lianhu
• Xincheng
• Beilin
• Baqiao
• Weiyang
• Yanta
• Yanliang
• Lintong
• Chang'an
• Gaoling
• Huyi

Counties

• Lantian
• Zhouzhi

Landmarks

• City wall
• Daming Palace National Heritage Park
• Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and the Terracotta Army
• Bell Tower
• Chang'an Flower
• Drum Tower
• Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
• Small Wild Goose Pagoda
• Stele Forest
• Xingjiao Temple
• Banpo
• Qianling Mausoleum
• Tang West Market Museum

Culture

• Qinqiang

Education

• Xi'an Jiaotong University
• Xidian University
• Northwestern Polytechnical University
• Northwest University
• Chang'an University
• Shaanxi Normal University
• Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology
• Xi'an University of Technology
• Xi'an Shiyou University
• Xi'an International Studies University
• Northwest University of Political Science and Law
• Xi'an University of Science and Technology
• Xi'an Institute of Post & Telecommunications
• Xi'an University of Finance and Economics
• Xi'an Polytechnic University
• Xi'an Conservatory of Music
• Xi'an Physical Education Institute
• Xi'an Technological University
• Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts
• Shaanxi Institute of Education
• Xi'an Institute of Arts and Science

Transport

• Xi'an Metro
• Xi'an railway station
• Xi'an North railway station
• Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
• China National Highway 210
• China National Highway 211
• China National Highway 312

Closed	Xi'an Xiguan Airport