Yichang Sanxia Airport

机About this airport

Yichang Sanxia Airport serves Yichang in western Hubei province, one of the key cities for Yangtze River tourism. Yichang's name (Smooth Sailing) reflects its location at the eastern gateway of the Three Gorges — the Yangtze River exits the Three Gorges section at Yichang and broadens into the middle Yangtze plain. The city is the downstream terminus for Three Gorges cruise itineraries and the location of the Three Gorges Dam visitor centre.

The Three Gorges Dam — the world's largest hydroelectric power station — is approximately 40 km upstream from Yichang city. The visitor centre on the dam itself allows observation of the five-stage ship lock system, the power generation facilities, and an overview of the gorge landscape. The flooding of the reservoir behind the dam has permanently altered the Three Gorges landscape compared to pre-dam conditions.

Flights connect to major domestic destinations [VERIFY: current routes — May 2026]. The city is also on the Yichang-Wanzhou railway (one of China's engineering achievements, crossing the Qinling-Daba mountain barrier) and has high-speed rail connections to Wuhan.

Yangtze cruises depart from Yichang upstream or Chongqing downstream, covering the Three Gorges over 3–5 days. The Shennongjia Forestry District is approximately 200 km northwest by road, giving Yichang a dual role as a base for both the Yangtze and the highlands.