▁run way . ▁It ▁is ▁expected ▁to ▁handle ▁ 1 2 0 , 0 0 0 ▁passengers ▁by ▁ 2 0 2 0 . ▁Const ruction ▁began ▁in ▁May ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁and ▁cost ▁an ▁estimated ▁ 1 . 6 5 ▁billion ▁y uan ▁( 2 4 1 . 2 2 ▁million ▁U . S . ▁dollars ). ▁ ▁As ▁Sh iqu an he ▁( A li ) ▁is ▁only ▁a ▁one - day ▁bus ▁drive ▁( about ▁ 3 3 0   km ) ▁from ▁the ▁settlement ▁of ▁D arch en ▁situated ▁just ▁north ▁of ▁Lake ▁Man as ar ov ar , ▁facing ▁Mount ▁K ail ash , ▁it ▁is ▁expected ▁to ▁benefit ▁pil gr ims ▁to ▁these ▁two ▁sites , ▁which ▁are ▁considered ▁sacred ▁by ▁H ind us , ▁Buddh ists , ▁Bon pa ▁and ▁J ains . ▁With ▁the ▁opening ▁of ▁Sh ig at se ▁Peace ▁Airport ▁in ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁the ▁five ▁air ports , ▁couple d ▁with ▁the ▁Q ing hai – T ib et ▁railway ▁and ▁a ▁network ▁of ▁roads , ▁are ▁expected ▁to ▁increase ▁tour ism ▁to ▁scen ic ▁and ▁holy ▁sites ▁in ▁Tib et . ▁ ▁Airlines ▁and ▁destin ations ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁List ▁of ▁air ports ▁in ▁China ▁List ▁of ▁the ▁bus iest ▁air ports ▁in ▁China ▁List ▁of ▁highest ▁air ports ▁ ▁Foot notes ▁ ▁References ▁Al bin ia , ▁Alice . ▁( 2 0 0 8 ) ▁Emp ires ▁of ▁the ▁Ind us : ▁The ▁Story