As one of the five major airports preparing to serve the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games, the Shanhaiguan Airport has gained the right to issue temporary entry visas from May 1 to October 17.

Passengers, including persons traveling for business purposes, are entitled to temporary visas unpon entry.

In the past two years, Qinhuangdao and the State General Administration of Civil Aviation have jointly made an investment of more than 45 million RMB to upgrade outdated equipment and facilities in an effort to ensure smooth air transport for the Games.

The parking apron at the airport is able to accommodate five large-scale Boeing 757 airplanes and one 737 airplane with the capacity to handle more than 200,000 passengers each year.

According to a source in charge of the airport, 800 passengers will use the airport during the Olympic Games each hour.

Shanhaiguan started its domestic service in 1984 and was approved to start serving international passengers due to the mounting needs of the country's tourism sector.

The source said: "Emergency drills are scheduled in the airport's run-up to the Olympic Games."

(BOCOG March 18, 2008)