People in Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang welcomed their new airport when the Jieyang Chaoshan Airport opened on Dec. 15 in Paotai Town of Jieyang City, East Guangdong Province.

It used to be only a small airport in Shantou connecting the vast eastern part of the province with the world. The 38-year-old Shantou Airport had to share its runway with the local air force, allowing only some 40 flights to take off and land every day.

Now devoting to civil aviation, the Jieyang Chaoshan Airport is located centrally between the major cities of the East Guangdong, about 20 km between the city center of Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang.

The new 55,000 sq. m airport terminal doubles the size of the old one. The large glass covers both sides of the terminal making the lighting comfortable, while still allowing for the conservation of energy. There are direction signs in both Chinese and English, and a public address system that announces in Putonghua, Chaozhou dialect and English to communicate with passengers from all across the world. There are 28 check-in counters for domestic flights and 11 for international flights. Passengers can also use 16 self-check-in machines to help check-in quicker.

One thing differentiating the Jieyang Chaoshan Airport with others is its open-air garden located inside the terminal. The triangular space with tall trees and flowers provides the passengers with a place to take a breath in the long boring time of waiting to board.

The new airport is currently running the original winter flight schedule without more flights, but benefits have already emerged as the ticket prices lowered. It is expected that in 2015 there will be 49 domestic air lines and 16 internationals operating in the new airport.