Translate
Xining Caojiabao International Airport
Haidong (Huzhu Tu Autonomous County), China
Xining Caojiabao International Airport
Explore Haidong (Huzhu Tu Autonomous County) city guide Navigate to this airportGateway to Qinghai Province on the Tibetan Plateau.
- ›Located at an elevation of approximately 2,175 meters (7,136 feet) above sea level.
- ›Serves as the main gateway to Qinghai Province and tourism destinations such as Qinghai Lake.
- ›Situated about 30 kilometers east of Xining city center in Haidong Prefecture.
- ›High altitude operations require special performance considerations for aircraft.
- ›The airport has been progressively expanded to meet rising passenger demand in the 2010s and 2020s.
Xining Caojiabao International Airport serves as the primary air gateway to Qinghai Province in northwestern China, handling connections between the provincial capital Xining and major Chinese cities as well as select international routes. Physically located in Haidong's Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, the airport sits at an elevation of approximately 2,200 metres above sea level, making it one of China's higher-altitude commercial airports. It plays a strategic role in opening up the Qinghai-Tibet region to tourism, trade, and regional development.
- Terminal 1 — The original domestic terminal handling regional and point-to-point flights within China.
- Terminal 2 — A newer, expanded terminal supporting increased domestic capacity and limited international operations.
- Airport shuttle buses connecting to central Xining city
- Taxi services available at the arrivals forecourt
- Ride-hailing apps (Didi) operational from the airport
- Private car hire and pre-booked transfers
- Inter-city coach services to Haidong and surrounding areas
- Holiday Inn Express Xining
- Qinghai Hotel
- Vienna Hotel Xining
- GreenTree Inn Xining Airport
- Home Inn Xining
Inside the airport, passengers can find standard Chinese fast food outlets, noodle counters, and convenience stores offering local Qinghai specialties such as hand-pulled noodles and yak-based products. The dining options are relatively modest compared to larger Chinese hub airports, so travellers on long layovers may wish to eat before arriving. Outside the terminal, Huzhu county towns offer authentic local Tibetan and Hui Muslim cuisine at reasonable prices.
- Allow extra time for acclimatisation — the airport's high altitude can cause mild altitude sickness for visitors arriving from low-elevation cities.
- Book airport shuttle buses in advance during peak summer travel season, as demand from Qinghai Lake tourists can be high.
- Carry cash (Chinese yuan) as not all ground transport and smaller vendors accept foreign bank cards or international digital payments.
- Check flight schedules carefully, as weather and high-altitude conditions can occasionally cause delays or cancellations, especially in winter months.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Route map (19 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
Routes
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 XNN? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for China from official government sources.
Xining Caojiapu International Airport is an airport serving Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, China. It is located in Huzhu County, Haidong, on the Tibetan Plateau about 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of downtown Xining. The airport began operation in 1991. In October 2011, a new 3,800-meter runway entered service. The older runway now serves as a taxiway.
Read full article on Wikipedia