The Number

4,411

Meters above sea level

The world's highest-altitude civilian airport started operating on Monday in Sichuan province, dramatically shortening travel time between "the last Shangri-La" and the provincial capital. Daocheng Yading Airport, located in Daocheng county, Garzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture, will cut the traffic time between the county and the provincial capital of Chengdu from two days by bus to 65 minutes by plane. It became the world's highest civilian airport, replacing Bangda Airport in the Tibet autonomous region, which is 4,334 meters above sea level.