Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport or Pai Yuen Airport was the main airport in Guangzhou, China, until August 5, 2004, when it was replaced by the identically named Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, some 25 kilometres (16 mi) to the north. Opened in 1932, "Baiyun" means "white clouds" in Chinese, while the airport took its name from the adjacent Baiyun Mountain.
Aerial views of the old airport show redevelopment is complete with the previous site now fully covered with parks, residential developments (Baiyun New Town) and commercial development. The terminal building is being converted as G5 Mall.
History
The old airport opened in 1932. Due to the expansion of Guangzhou, the airport could not expand to meet passengers needs as buildings surrounded the airport. On August 5, 2004, the new Baiyun airport opened and the old airport was closed.
Redevelopment
Plans for the site of the old airport include a large shopping mall. The former terminal of the airport is being converted into a large shopping mall. Other plans are converting the northern portion of the former airport into a provincial-and city-level functional area integrating conference services. The southern portion will be converted into Guangzhou's secondary center integrating retail business, Cultural, sports, business, and commercial activities.
Incidents and accidents
- On the 24Â December 1982, an Ilyushin Il-18 on CAAC Flight 2311 was destroyed by fire after landing at the airport. 25 passengers were killed.
- On 2Â October 1990, Xiamen Airlines Flight 8301 from Xiamen to Guangzhou, a Boeing 737-247 jetliner, hijacked shortly after it took off from Xiamen, landed at the airport, sideswiped a China Southwest Airlines Boeing 707, and crashed into a China Southern Airlines Boeing 757, causing a total of 128 fatalities. The three other aircraft on the apron were destroyed.
See also
- List of defunct international airports
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