Former Shashi Airport

Shashi Airport (Jingzhou) sits 30 kilometres north of Jingzhou city centre, a modern civilian facility that opened in 2021 to serve the central Hubei region. The airport replaced the older military-civilian Shashi Airport and now provides direct flights to major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. While the terminal is compact and efficient, its distance from the city means passengers need to plan their ground transport carefully. The airport handles domestic flights only, with a handful of airlines operating from a single terminal building. The surrounding area is flat farmland, with the Yangtze River lying to the south. For travellers heading into Jingzhou, the journey takes about 40 minutes by car in good traffic.

Getting There

The airport is located in the town of Lizhu, Jingzhou district, roughly 30 km north of Jingzhou’s city centre. The most straightforward option is a taxi or ride-hailing service. Taxis queue outside the arrivals hall and charge a flat rate of around 80–100 RMB to the city centre. For those familiar with Chinese apps, Didi Chuxing works reliably and often costs slightly less. Public buses run from the airport to the city, but services are infrequent—usually one bus every hour. The bus route (line 22) terminates at the Jingzhou Bus Terminal, taking about 50 minutes. For early or late flights, taxis are the only practical choice. Driving your own car? The airport car park is wheelchair accessible and offers ample space; fees are reasonable at about 30 RMB per day. Rental car desks are present in the arrivals hall, operated by local agencies, but advance booking is recommended.

Inside the Terminal

Shashi Airport’s terminal is straightforward and easy to navigate. On departure, check-in counters run along one side of the hall, with separate rows for each airline. Security screening is efficient, with lanes opening 30 minutes before the first flight. Beyond security, the waiting area has seating for about 200 passengers, a small shop selling drinks and snacks, and a single cafe offering basic Chinese meals and coffee. The toilet facilities, including a wheelchair-accessible toilet, are clean and well-maintained. Wheelchair-accessible entrances and car parks are available. Arrivals are on the ground floor: baggage claim has two carousels, and the exit leads directly to the transport area. The airport is not large enough to have a lounge or extensive retail; it is designed for quick turnaround. The atmosphere is calm compared to larger hubs, but during peak times (for example, Monday 1 pm, Tuesday 4 pm, Wednesday midnight, or Thursday 2 pm) queues at check-in and security can stretch to 20 minutes. Passengers should arrive at least 90 minutes before domestic flights.

Shashi Airport and Jingzhou

Jingzhou is a city steeped in history, sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River. It served as the capital of the ancient Chu state during the Warring States period and later became a key strategic town in the Three Kingdoms era. The name Jingzhou itself is synonymous with the classic novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and many of its most famous events unfolded here. The city’s best-known attraction is the Jingzhou Ancient City Wall, a well-preserved Ming dynasty fortification that stretches for over 10 kilometres. Visitors can walk or cycle along the top of the wall, enjoying views of the old town and the distant river. Inside the walls, the Jingzhou Museum houses a rich collection of artefacts from the Chu state, including ancient bronze vessels, lacquerware, and the famous sword of King Goujian—though the original sword is actually in Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan. The museum is free and worth a morning. For history enthusiasts, the nearby Zhanghua Temple and the site of the former Jingzhou Xunyang Tower provide deeper context.

Beyond history, Jingzhou is a modern city with a lively local food scene. The region is known for its Yangtze river fish, often steamed with ginger and scallions, and for the hearty Jingzhou hot dry noodles (re gan mian). The local night markets, especially along Beijing Road, offer grilled skewers, stinky tofu, and fresh fruit in abundance. In spring, the cherry blossoms along the riverbanks draw crowds. The city is also a transportation hub for the Three Gorges region: many travellers use Jingzhou as a stopover before taking a boat tour of the Yangtze Gorges or visiting the Three Gorges Dam further upstream. Despite its historical significance, Jingzhou remains less touristy than Xi’an or Luoyang, making it a pleasant place to explore at a relaxed pace. Taxi drivers and shopkeepers are generally helpful, though English is not widely spoken; having a translation app or a phrase list is useful. Most attractions are within a 10 km radius of the city centre, easily reachable by taxi or public bus.

Practical Information

Shashi Airport is open from approximately 06:00 to 22:00 daily, aligning with flight schedules. There is no official website in English; the Chinese name is 荆州沙市机场. The airport phone number is +86 716-8888-999 (verify before calling). For flight information, check Chinese travel apps like Variflight or FlightMaster.

Actionable tips:

• Pre-book a taxi or ride-hailing if arriving late. Public buses stop around 20:00.
• The airport has no currency exchange; bring enough cash or use Alipay/WeChat Pay.
• Wheelchair users: the entire terminal is accessible, but call ahead to arrange assistance.
• Save time by checking in online via the airline’s app, as the airport self-service kiosks are few.
• One concrete piece of advice: buy a bottle of water after security, because the small shop inside occasionally runs out.