A rumble. A distant drone. That’s Shanghai Dachang Airport. Not the bustling hub of Hongqiao or Pudong. This is different. This is a quieter story.
Shanghai Dachang Airport. A military airfield. Its history is woven into the fabric of Shanghai’s past. Once a crucial strategic location. It served as an emergency runway. It was a testing ground for aircraft. It was used by the air force. For decades its existence was a well-kept secret. Few knew of its importance to China’s military history.
Picture this. The year is 1985. A guidebook details the city’s famous airfields. Longhua. Hongqiao. Jiangwan. Dachang is a mere footnote. Forgotten. Almost swallowed by the relentless expansion of Shanghai. The surrounding Baoshan district boomed with high-rises. Yet Dachang persisted. A testament to its enduring strategic significance.
Local politicians desired the land. They wanted to build. They wanted profit. Their ambitions clashed with the air force’s control over the airport. Residents experienced the occasional surprise. A plane would land unexpectedly. Then take off again. A stark reminder of Dachang’s presence. A testament to the tension between urban development and military necessity.
Today Shanghai Dachang Airport is a mid-sized airport. It’s located at 31.32410 latitude and 121.40949 longitude. It boasts a single runway. It has no ICAO code. We use CN-0169. Nearby are other airfields. But Dachang remains a unique historical landmark.
The airport doesn’t publish weather reports. The closest station is at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. That’s 16 kilometers away. It operates within the Shanghai flight information region. It observes the Asia/Shanghai timezone. Eight hours ahead of UTC.
The sun rises and sets over Dachang. A daily cycle that has witnessed countless takeoffs and landings. This quiet airport. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most compelling stories. Are those that remain untold. Until now. So next time you think of Shanghai’s air travel legacy. Remember the quiet hum of Shanghai Dachang Airport. A true hidden gem.