(TibetanReview.net, Aug30, 2018) – China says it began operating on Aug 28 a new civil airport in the Qilian Mountains area, making it the sixth high-altitude airport (over 2,438 metres above sea level) in Qinghai Province. The airport is located in Qilian (Tibetan: Chilen or Dola) County of Haibei (Tsojang) Prefecture.
The new airport will shorten the travel time from the provincial capital Xining (Siling) to the county from five hours to only 50 minutes, reported China’s official xinhuanet.com/English Aug 28.
The opening of the new airport is significant as China has discovered Gas Hydrates in the Qilian Mountain Permafrost after digging four scientific experimental wells in 2008 and 2009 and has been actively seeking ways to extract the precious mineral resource to reduce its heavy reliance on imports.
The report cited Dorje, deputy governor of the prefecture, as saying the new airport will make travel more convenient for researchers as well as tourists who visit Qilian.