The facade of the Baotou Donghe International Airport. [Photo/Baotou news network]

The Civil Aviation Administration of China recently approved the renaming of Baotou Donghe Airport to the Baotou Donghe International Airport – officially making it the fifth international airport in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Between 2014 and 2017, Baotou city invested 182 million yuan ($25.52 million) to transform the old terminal into an international terminal.

In 2016, the Baotou bureau of commerce actively promoted the temporary opening of the airport's aviation port.

During the seven periods of temporary opening, the airport launched 12 international and regional routes, including destinations Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket and Pattaya in Thailand. Other routes were to Incheon in the Republic of Korea, Irkutsk in Russia, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Nha Trang and Hanoi in Vietnam, as well as to Hong Kong.

On Dec 23, 2023, the General Administration of Customs of China led the on-site inspection of the Baotou Airport's aviation port, officially opening it for international operations.

Baotou is now accelerating its efforts to enhance the functions and facilities of the airport, with plans to gradually open international routes to Mongolia, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

Additionally, the city aims to develop international courier services, duty-free shops and the trade of imported fruit and fresh seafood.