⚠️ Reference data only, not for flight planning. Full notice →
← Home / Airports / China
Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base

Compiled by

Xigazê (Samzhubzê), Tibet Autonomous Region (China)
IATA: RKZ ICAO: ZURK
Longest Active Runway
16,404 ft
5,000 meters
Field Elevation
12,408 ft
3,782 m MSL
Runway Inventory
2 active
Unlighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
29.3509°, 89.2992°
LARGE AIRPORT
🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
#1 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#2 of 7558
Top <0.1% percentile worldwide
National Standing (China)
#1 of 55 in CN
#1 of 264 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+64%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 RKZ in numbers: 16,404 ft longest runway · #1 of 650 published · #2 of 7,558 worldwide (top <0.1%) · #1 in China.
🛫

Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base (RKZ)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Shigatse Peace Airport is an extraordinary testament to civil aviation engineering in extreme environments. Situated at an altitude of 12,402 ft on the Tibetan Plateau, severely reduced air pressure impairs aerodynamic lift and turbojet engine thrust. To ensure commercial jetliners can reach high rotation speeds and stop safely with high landing ground speeds, Runway 09/27 was engineered to a staggering 5,000 meters (16,404 ft), with operations restricted to specially modified aircraft with oxygen systems.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Single paved Runway 09/27 (16,404 ft / 5,000 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Commissioned in October 2010 as Tibet's fifth civil airport, built as a high-altitude dual-use military and civilian facility.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Serves Tibet's second-largest city and the Tashilhunpo Monastery region, located 80 NM west of Lhasa Gonggar (LXA).
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
One of the highest commercial airports in the world at 12,402 ft (3,780 m MSL); air density is roughly 40% lower than at sea level, requiring an astonishing 16,404 ft (5,000 m) runway—among the longest civil runways on Earth.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) · Aeronautical Information Service China (NAIP)
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
⛰️

Elevation & National Context

High-Altitude Aerodrome (≥5,000 ft)

RKZ lies at 3,782 m (12,408 ft), #3 of 650 published airports by elevation and 97.3 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 12,183 ft above the China median (225 ft, 54 airports) and the highest published airport in the country.

🧭

Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Closest of 1 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbour within 100 NM: Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (LXA), 84.5 NM, 13,123 ft. RKZ has the longest runway in this radius, 3,281 ft over LXA.

✈️

Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 16,404 ft (5,000 m)

RKZ runways: 09/27 16,404 × 197 ft concrete (con); 07/25 9,843 × 35 ft concrete (con). National standing: #1 of 55 in China; 1,640 ft ahead of KMG (14,764 ft). +64% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
09/27 16,404 ft (5000 m / 5.000 km) 197 ft (60m) Concrete (CON) ❌ Unlighted ✅ Active
07/25 9,843 ft (3000 m / 3.000 km) 35 ft (11m) Concrete (CON) ❌ Unlighted ✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name IATA Distance Longest Runway Lighting
Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (Shannan (Gonggar)) LXA 84.5 NM (156.5 km) 13,123 ft ✅ Lighted

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →