Quzhou Airport

Quzhou Civil Aviation Airport (JUZ) sits roughly 30 kilometres west of downtown Quzhou, serving a prefecture-level city of about 2.5 million people in western Zhejiang province. The airport, which shares its runways with a military air base, began limited civil operations in 1993 and has slowly expanded its route network to include destinations such as Beijing Daxing, Shenzhen, and Chengdu. While it remains a small regional facility by Chinese standards, recent upgrades to the terminal have improved passenger flow and accessibility. For anyone flying into or out of western Zhejiang, understanding the airport's quirks — its limited hours, seasonal schedule changes, and modest facilities — makes for a smoother trip.

Getting There

The airport is located in the town of Kecheng, about 30 kilometres west of central Quzhou. The most straightforward way to reach the terminal is by taxi from the city centre, a journey that takes roughly 40 minutes depending on traffic. Metered fares run around 80 to 100 RMB; agree on a price beforehand if the driver isn't using the meter. Ride-hailing apps like Didi Chuxing work reliably in Quzhou, and you can set the destination as "Quzhou Airport" (衢州机场). Bus route 9 connects the Quzhou Railway Station to the airport, with departures roughly every 30 minutes between 6:30 am and 6:00 pm, and the journey takes about an hour. However, the bus stop at the airport is a short walk from the terminal entrance, so budget extra time. For passengers driving themselves, the airport has a small parking lot with about 100 spaces; parking is free for the first hour and 5 RMB per hour thereafter, with a daily cap of 30 RMB. Note that the access road is two-lane and can get congested near the terminal during peak flight times.

Inside the Terminal

The terminal at Quzhou Civil Aviation is a single-storey building with separate departure and arrival corridors — though in practice they share the same main hall. Upon entering, passengers find a modest check-in area with ten counters; most flights open check-in two hours before departure and close 30 minutes prior. The security checkpoint has two lanes and usually moves efficiently, but during the busiest periods (Monday 5 pm, Tuesday 2 pm, Wednesday 11 pm, Thursday 6 pm) queues can stretch to 15 minutes. The terminal is equipped with a wheelchair-accessible entrance at the main door and accessible toilets near the waiting area, though other accessibility features are limited. The departure lounge is compact, with about 200 seats, a single convenience store selling snacks and drinks, and a small tea kiosk. Free Wi-Fi is available but requires a Chinese phone number for SMS verification — international visitors may need to use airport-provided tablets at a designated help kiosk. There are no airline lounges or restaurants inside the secure area, so eat before you go through security. Arrivals emerge into the same hall as check-in, with a baggage belt that handles one flight at a time. The overall atmosphere is utilitarian and quiet; don't expect duty-free shops or ornate architecture.

Quzhou Civil Aviation and Quzhou

Quzhou itself is not a typical tourist destination, but it offers a genuine slice of inland Zhejiang that sees few foreign visitors. The city sits at the confluence of the Qu and Wuxi rivers, historically serving as a transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural region. The area is known for its Confucian heritage: the Quzhou Confucian Temple is one of only two major Confucian temples in China (the other being in Qufu), built by descendants of Confucius who fled south during the Song dynasty. The temple complex, with its serene courtyards and ancient gingko trees, is a highlight for anyone interested in Chinese history. Beyond the city centre, the Longyou Caves — a series of man-made underground caverns dating back over 2,000 years — remain an archaeological puzzle, their precise purpose still debated. They are about 20 kilometres from the airport, easily reached by taxi. The surrounding countryside is lush with bamboo forests and tea plantations; this is the region that produces kumquats and a local variety of tangerine. For hikers, Jianglang Mountain, a UNESCO Global Geopark, offers dramatic granite peaks and a network of trails about an hour's drive north of the airport. The local cuisine is distinctive: Quzhou's "three heads" (rabbit head, duck head, and fish head) are specialities not for the faint-hearted, but the milder bamboo shoot and tofu dishes are widely available. Most visitors arrive on business — the city is a hub for chemical manufacturing and machinery — but those who pause to explore find a place that has retained its character amid China's rapid development.

Practical Information

Quzhou Civil Aviation Airport does not operate 24 hours daily; check-in counters and security open only when flights are scheduled. Confirmed operating hours are not published, but as a rule, the terminal opens two hours before the first departure and closes after the last arrival — typically between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm. The busiest times, based on flight frequency, are Monday at 5 pm, Tuesday at 2 pm, Wednesday at 11 pm (note: this is late evening, so the terminal may close shortly after), and Thursday at 6 pm. The airport phone number is +86 570 801 8756, staffed during operating hours. For flight status, check Chinese flight tracking apps or the airport's official WeChat account (search "衢州机场"). There are no luggage storage facilities inside the terminal, so plan accordingly. Currency exchange is not available; bring sufficient RMB for taxis and snacks. One concrete piece of advice: arrive at least 90 minutes before domestic departures, even if you think the airport will be quiet — security occasionally shuts one lane without notice, and the lack of second chances means you could easily miss your flight.