Ngari Gunsa Airport
Shiquanhe, China
Ngari Gunsa Airport
High-altitude gateway to Tibet's remote Ngari Prefecture.
- ›Elevation of approximately 4,274 meters (14,022 feet) makes it one of the highest commercial airports in the world.
- ›Located in Ngari Prefecture, one of the most sparsely populated regions on Earth.
- ›Foreign visitors require both a Tibet Travel Permit and an Aliens' Travel Permit for this area.
- ›The airport serves as a vital lifeline for a region where overland travel is extremely slow and difficult.
- ›Nearby attractions include Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, important pilgrimage sites.
Ngari Gunsa Airport serves Shiquanhe, the administrative centre of the Ngari Prefecture in the far western reaches of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Situated at an elevation of approximately 4,274 metres above sea level, it ranks among the highest commercial airports in the world. The airport plays a vital logistical role connecting this remote, sparsely populated plateau region to Lhasa and other major Chinese cities.
- Main Terminal — A single compact terminal handling all domestic arrivals and departures, designed to accommodate the modest passenger volumes of this high-altitude frontier airport.
- Taxi services available outside the terminal building
- Private car hire arranged through local guesthouses and hotels
- Shuttle transfers offered by select hotels in Shiquanhe town
- Ali Hotel (Shiquanhe)
- Shiquanhe Guesthouse
- Ngari Plateau Hotel
Food options inside the terminal are limited to a small café offering basic snacks, instant noodles, and hot beverages. Shiquanhe town, roughly 30 kilometres from the airport, has local Tibetan and Sichuan-style restaurants serving hearty meals suited to the high-altitude climate. Travellers are advised to carry their own snacks given the remote location and limited in-terminal facilities.
- Acclimatise carefully — the airport sits above 4,200 metres and altitude sickness is a genuine risk for new arrivals.
- A Tibet Travel Permit and an additional Ngari Alien Travel Permit are mandatory for foreign nationals; arrange these well in advance.
- Temperatures can drop sharply at any time of year; pack warm layers regardless of the season.
- Fuel, supplies, and ATMs are scarce beyond Shiquanhe, so carry sufficient cash and provisions before departing the town.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Route map (2 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
Routes
Aircraft operating here
Pick what matters for your layover or early flight, then compare on your favorite booking site.
IndianAirports may receive compensation when you book or purchase through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider and may change. We never share your private trip details with partners — only the destination, dates and party size you searched.
City & Place Guide
No guide exists for this place yet — Click to generate a Traveler Pulse guide.
Passport, Visa & Immigration
Flying internationally via NGQ? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for China from official government sources.
Ali Kunsha Airport, also called Ngari Günsa Airport,, also known as Shiquanhe Airport, is a dual-use military and civil airport serving the town of Shiquanhe in Ngari Prefecture of Tibet region of China. It is located in the Günsa Township, roughly 90 km from Shiquanhe. It started operations on 1 July 2010, becoming the fourth civil airport in Tibet after Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Qamdo airports.
Read full article on Wikipedia