The West Coast New Area of the city of Qingdao, Shandong province announced the opening of a 5-billion-yuan ($163.5 million) aviation park program, on Nov 5, Qingdao Daily report, adding that the project is for China’s first general aviation park for tourists, with exhibits and a chance to experience the items on display.

Support for the project comes from the Shandong Aviation Industry Association, with fund from the Qingdao Aviation Industry Investment Service Center Co, Shandong Hairuo General Aviation Co, and Qingdao Shenglong General Aviation Co.

It will have five areas for general aviation, marine aviation, training, flight testing and logistics support, along with an education foundation, air - space museum, and convention and expo center with the first phase scheduled for late-2015 completion.

At the opening ceremony, Shandong Hairuo General Aviation signed a deal with the US’s Cessna Aircraft Co to act as Cessna’s general agent for its 6S dealerships in China where general aviation in a key emerging industry. In recent years, China’s general aviation industry has seen rapid growth with 399 general airports and temporary landing sites by the end of 2013, for an increase of 113 over 2010, and more than 200 licensed general aviation companies. Qingdao’s New Area hopes to give this a boost so it has a plan running to 2020, which calls for at least 10 general aviation companies, with an annual output totaling 10 billion yuan, training for 1,000 aviation personnel, and a major, domestic business aviation hub, a marine aviation foundation and a major general aviation testing center for Northeast Asia.