Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport is an international airport serving the city of Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning province. It is located in Ganjingzi District, about northwest of the city center. In 2025, the airport handled 19,787,716 passengers, making it the busiest airport in Northeast China and the 27th busiest nationwide.

History

thumb|Zhoushuizi Airport in 1928-1938

Zhoushuizi was originally an insect-infested marsh, called "Choushuizi" () or "smelly waters" by nearby residents. During the late Qing dynasty, it became a racecourse for horse racing. After the marsh was drained, it was renamed Zhoushuizi (Zhou's waters) after a nearby village called Zhoujiatun ("Zhou family village").

After Japan won the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, the Liaodong Peninsula, including Dalian, came under Japanese occupation. In 1924, the Japanese began to convert Zhoushuizi Racecourse into an airport, which was opened in 1927.

After the surrender of Japan in 1945, Zhoushuizi was under the control of the Soviet Air Forces for ten years, until it was transferred to the Chinese PLA Air Force in May 1955.

Facilities

In September 2011, a new 71,000 square-meter terminal building was completed as part of the 2.2 billion yuan third-phase expansion project of the airport. The airport has a runway (class 4E), of terminal buildings, 42 aircraft parking places, and 2,600 car parking places. The entire airport covers an area of .

Airlines and destinations

As a focus city for China Southern Airlines, Dalian has many of China Southern's Japanese destinations. China's flag carrier, Air China, also makes a stop-over at Dalian on its flights from Beijing to Japan. Due to the tight connection and high demand between Dalian and Japan, Japan Airlines still operates daily direct flight from Narita Airport in Tokyo to Dalian. Two major South Korean airlines, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, operate daily flight to Dalian from Incheon Airport in Seoul. The majority of international flights are operated by China Southern Airlines, Air China, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air and Uni Air.

Passenger

<!-- Please use independent sources. The airport and the airline itself are not independent sources. -->

Cargo

thumb|center|500px|Red for passenger destinations, blue for cargo-only destinations. As of March 2026.

Ground transportation

The airport is served by the Dalian Metro Line 2 and many bus lines to central Dalian. An airport bus line also serves the central district. A taxi hub station is located on the ground level.

Accidents and incidents

On May 7, 2002, China Northern Airlines Flight 6136 was en route from Beijing to Dalian when an arsonist set the aircraft on fire, causing it to lose control and crash in Bohai Bay, killing everyone on board.

See also

  • List of airports in China
  • List of the busiest airports in China

References

  • Official site