Construction of an airport started recently in the suburbs of Datong City, north China's Shanxi Province.

With an area of 133 hectares, the airport will be two km from the expressway between Beijing and Datong, the second largest city in Shanxi Province.

The main part of the project will be completed by the end of this year and the airport will be put into operation next year, when the city will be linked with Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu andShenyang cities, respectively.

The first phase of the project is expected to cost 300 million yuan.

Landlocked Datong is famous for its rich coal resources and many tourist attractions including the world-famous Yungang Grottoes.

(Eastday.com.cn 09/03/2001)