Lishui Airport opens, offers travel incentives

A bird's-eye view of the Lishui Airport. [Photo/Tide News]

The new Lishui Airport in Lishui, Zhejiang province, officially began operating on July 18, marking a milestone in regional connectivity and tourism development.

Located in Liandu district, the airport sits just 15 kilometers from downtown Lishui. The facility features an expansive terminal spanning 12,000 square meters and eight aircraft stands, designed to handle an annual passenger throughput of 1 million and 4,000 metric tons of cargo.

At a news conference held on July 16, authorities announced phased route expansions. On the opening day, flights will connect Lishui to Beijing and Shanghai, followed by routes to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Guiyang after August.

The airport plans to add flights to Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Harbin, and Qingdao from November, aiming to bring its total air routes to over 10 by the year-end.

By 2026, plans target extending coverage further to Changsha, Haikou, Kunming, and Zhengzhou, in a move toward serving over 14 routes.

To welcome visitors, Lishui is offering triple surprises to those who come via the Lishui Airport before Dec 31.

Eligible visitors will receive a free cultural-tourism card granting single-entry admission to 28 major attractions, including the Xiandu Scenic Area and the Yunhe Rice Terraces Scenic Area. They can also enjoy discounts or free souvenirs at over 200 hotels, homestays, and dining outlets.

Another attraction is the Zhejiang Provincial City Basketball League which is ongoing. From July 18 to the end of July, visitors can get a ticket for the Lishui Division's competitions with their air tickets.

Additionally, from July 18 to Aug 18, 50 tourists coming by air will be randomly selected to receive a ticket to an all-star concert which will be held in late August.