Shuinan Airport

Taichung Shuinan Airport 臺たい中ちゅう水すい湳機場じょう Táizhōng Shuǐnǎn Jīchǎng
Aerial view of Shuinan Airport before its closure
IATA: TXG ICAO: RCLG
Summary
Airport type	Defunct
Owner	Civil Aeronautics Administration, Republic of China Air Force
Operator	Civil Aeronautics Administration
Serves	Taichung
Location	Xitun District
Opened	1911 (1911)
Closed	August 2012 (2012-08)
Passenger services ceased	March 15, 2004 (2004-03-15)
Occupants	Republic of China Air Force
Time zone	National Standard Time (UTC+08:00)
Coordinates	24°10′55″N 120°39′23″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 18/36 5,315 1,620 Asphalt
Statistics (2003)
Aircraft 27,940 Passengers 944,839 Cargo 2035.8 tonnes

Taichung Shuinan Airport (IATA: TXG, ICAO: RCLG) (Chinese: 臺たい中ちゅう水すい湳機場じょう; pinyin: Táizhōng Shuǐnǎn Jīchǎng) was an airport located in Xitun District, Taichung, Taiwan. It had an area of 250 hectares. The name originates from Shuinan, a village in nearby Beitun District.

History

Shuinan Airport was built during the Japanese rule of Taiwan for the Imperial Japanese Army, while also provided commercial flights, the only airport in Taichū Prefecture to do so. The airport provided scheduled flights directly to Japan. During World War II, Shuinan Airport was also used for kamikaze missions.

After the Surrender of Japan, the Republic of China Air Force took control of the airport. The airport was the only military site in Taichung not taken by civilians during the February 28 Incident. Between 1950 and 1980, Shuinan Airport became an important hub for Taiwan's aerospace industry, being home to the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation.

Between 1946 and 1970, the airport was only used for military purposes. However, commercial flights were first offered in 1971 with the construction of a passenger terminal. The airport also saw increased traffic with the Taiwan Provincial Government's move to Zhongxing New Village in central Taiwan.

With the rapid development of Taichung City, the airport was gradually surrounded with buildings, limiting its growth. To facilitate for international flights, all flights were moved to Ching Chuan Kang Airport on March 5, 2004. The site of Shuinan Airport and its surrounding land were developed into the Taichung Shuinan Economic and Trade Park. With the National Airborne Service Corps moving to Ching Chuan Kang in August 2012, Shuinan Airport officially ceased operations.