Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is seated in the central section of Chuanxi Plain and is 16km southwest to the center of Chengdu City. Located at 303447 N and 1035702E, it is an important aviation hinge and distribution center of passengers and cargo in the southwestern region. It is stationed with over 20 civil aviation and port units, including Southwestern Civil Aviation Administration of China, China International Airlines Southwest Division, Sichuan Airlines, etc. The airport is connected with the urban district via expressway.

Founded in 1938, the airport was formerly named Shuangguisi Airport and possessed earth surface for small biplanes to take off and touch down. Expanded in 1944, it has a 1,400 m runway rolled with limes and pebbles and used for the airplane under 15 tons.

On 12th Dec. 1956, the Headquarters of the General Staff the Central Military Commission approved that Shuangguisi Airport was put under civil aviation. Then it was formally listed as civil aviation airport and renamed Chengdu Shuangliu Airport. In 1957, the flights of Chengdu civil aviation were shifted to Shuangliu Airport from Guanghan Airport. The flight courses from Chengdu were thus opened to Beijing, Taiyuan, Xi'An, Chongqing, Kunming, Guiyang, Nanchong, etc.

The airport was expanded for the first time from 1959 to 1960. The expanded airport had a 2200m runway which can be used for Yell 18 and the planes under 100 tons to take off and touch down. The newly built departure building covered an area of 8500 m2 and was incorporated with thin shell and arch structure. Its asymmetry form connected to high-level control building received praises from all parties. In 1967, the runway was extended to 2600m. The extended runway still can only be used to take off and touch down for the planes under 100 tons.

The airport was expanded for twice in 1983 and 1991 respectively. As a result, the area of the departure building was increased to 17,400 m2 and the facilities with oil storage/supply capacity over 10,000 tons were introduced. Compared with other southwest airports, Shungliu Airport possessed more advanced facilities involving navigation control, communication, weather forecast and transportation service.

Large-scale expansion was conducted on flight area and navigation area from 1994 to 2001. The total investment amounted to RMB2,800,000,000.00. The flight area reached Class 4E. The runway was extended to 3,600m and could be used to take off and touch down for various plane models, including Boeing 747-400. Moreover, the runway was incorporated with PCLS II. The newly built departure building covered an area of 82,000m and was incorporated with three-parallel-porch design. The passengers of departure and arrival were separated. The domestic passengers were also separated from foreign passengers. It accommodated an hourly capacity of 3,500 passengers at rush hours. The newly built park covered an area of 74,000 m and the station site lanes covered an area of 44,000m.

The airport invested RMB3,800,000,000.00 to build the international departure building of 39,000 m in 2003 and it is estimated to be completed by 2004. People will find a modern airport with largest scale, sound facilities and complete functions in the west on the occasion.

In the 21st century, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport will strengthen its function and status as southwest hinge airport. It will receive guests from all over the world and will become the important southwest window facing the world, with more beautiful environment, more attentive service and more modernized facilities.