In October 2017, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) officially approved Chenzhou's report on the construction of the civil airport in Chenzhou (Beihu Airport) in Hunan Province.

Chenzhou Beihu Airport Construction Project is a major infrastructure project for Chenzhou to build a regional integrated transportation hub city. According to the "Approval of the State Council Central Military Commission on agreeing to build a new civil airport in Chenzhou", the project is located in Huatang Town, Beihu District, a domestic regional airport with an area of 2895 mu, a total investment of about 1.826 billion yuan, and is expected to be completed and put into operation in 2019. As the basic supporting project of the airport, the Beihu Airport Link Construction Project with the length of 2080 meters, is designed according to the standard of urban main road, west from Chenzhou Avenue and east to Chenyang Road, the total investment of 220 million yuan.

It is located as the domestic tourist regional airport and planned to open Chenzhou to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Zhangjiajie, Kunming, Xi'an, Nanning, Fuzhou and other places, which was conservatively estimated that the annual visitor handling capacity will reach 410,000 person-times by 2030.

Hunan Province is an underdeveloped region, the airports in Hunan Province are less with very large market space. The construction of regional airport is one of the important strategies to change the situation of underdevelopment, change the mode of economic development, adjust the industrial structure and speed up the layout of basic industry.

In addition, the construction of Chenzhou Beihu Airport will also radiate tens of millions of people around Chenzhou, which is an urgent need for the rapid development of economy, society and tourism.

The Airport Avenue panorama

"The construction of Beihu Airport Avenue will open the way to Beihu Airport and will link up with Beihu Avenue, Xiarong Expressway and the road network of light railway in the future, which will also promote the establishment of a new airport area and a road traffic system around the airport. The project was scheduled for one and a half years, and will be completed by the end of next year." City Investment Group Engineering Minister Lei Xingtao said.

Yi Pengfei said during the investigation that the Beihu Airport Project is a symbol of Chenzhou's gradual progress towards internationalization and modernization, which is of great significance to enhance the competitiveness of the city's development. The relevant departments at all levels should attach great importance to and support the construction of the airport, continue to promote good work style, consolidate good results, standardize orderly advance construction, and strictly ensure safety, progress and quality. At the same time, the departments should make efforts to create an aviation economic zone, amplify the radiation effect of the air-front economy, promote the development of related industries, and further broaden the channels of employment and income for the masses.