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CHINA  .Xinjiang. URUMQI, --20221223. a passenger aircraft dipped over the snow-capped Kunlun Mountains and landed smoothly at the Taxkorgan airport at 10:59 a.m., marking the start of operations at Chinas westernmost transportation airport.

Sawudayi Jangbiq, a resident of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, waited in his village of Pile, watching a livestream of the historic moment on his mobile phone.

"Having flights from the door of our house is something we never dreamed of before," he said, as the flight CZ5193, operated by China Southern Airlines, completed its around two-hour hop from the regional capital of Urumqi.

For Sawudayi and others like him, the opening of Xinjiangs first high plateau airport, located at 3,258 meters above sea level, is a milestone in transport links.

MOST CHALLENGING TASK :Equipped with a 3,800-meter runway, the airport is designed to handle an annual throughput of 160,000 passengers and 400 tonnes of cargo and mail. Construction of the airport began in 2020, with an investment of more than 1.6 billion yuan (about 229 million U.S. dollars).Building an airport on the Pamir Plateau has not been easy, with the lack of oxygen and cold weather impacting the efficiency of airport workers and slowing the progress of the project.

"It is one of the most challenging tasks Ive ever taken on," said Xu Changjiu, the technical director of the terminal area of the airport, who has been working in airport engineering for more than 20 years.

LIFE TO TAKE OFF:In Toglunxa Village, Xanbi Libiqs house looks out on some picturesque scenery. On the wetland outside the front door, herds of cattle and flocks of sheep can be seen beneath the blue sky, with the lofty mountains in the distance.

The convenient air passage will bring a steady flow of people, logistics and information to the Pamir Plateau, promoting industrial development on the plateau, said Zapar Atawulla, head of the county government.

"The airport will also play a positive role in improving the local transport, promoting local tourism and opening up to the outside world," he added. ■

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中國新疆塔什庫爾干的紅其拉甫機場20221223.日正式通航,這除了是中國最西的一座機場,海拔3258.4公尺高,也是一座「高高原機場」。

中國南方航空公司正式開通烏魯木齊至塔什庫爾干往返航線,標誌著中國大陸最西端的機場,新疆首個高高原機場塔什庫爾干紅其拉甫機場正式通航。未來預計可滿足年旅客輸送量16萬人次,貨郵輸送量400噸的使用需求。Staff members prepare for the opening of air traffic at a new super-high plateau airport in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 20221219..