Bole Alashankou Airport (ZWBL)
Medium airport · Bole, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China
Airport data
| Name | Bole Alashankou Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | ZWBL |
| IATA | BPL |
| Elevation | 1,253 ft (382 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 44°53'44" E 82°18'0" 44.89546, 82.30007 |
| Location | Bole, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/28 | 8,530 ft (2600 m) | — | — | Yes |
Bole Alashankou Airport at a glance
Bole Alashankou Airport is a medium airport in Bole, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China, known to airline systems as BPL. The field elevation of 1,253 ft (382 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at ZWBL are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 10/28, offers 8,530 ft (2600 m), with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 10 points roughly 100° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for ZWBL shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Bole Alashankou Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Ili Yining International Airport | ZWYN | 130 km (70 NM) |
| Xinyuan Nalati Airport | ZWNL | 184 km (99 NM) |
| Taldykorgan Airport | UAAT | 304 km (164 NM) |
| Ayaguz Airport | UASA | 365 km (197 NM) |
| Ürümqi Changji Air Base | CN-0135 | 394 km (213 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Bole Alashankou Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 1,253 ft field elevation of Bole Alashankou Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 334 airports and airfields we list for China — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Bole Alashankou Airport
What is the ICAO code of Bole Alashankou Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Bole Alashankou Airport is ZWBL, and its IATA code is BPL. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Bole Alashankou Airport above sea level?
Bole Alashankou Airport sits at an elevation of 1,253 feet (382 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Bole Alashankou Airport located?
The airport lies at 44.8955, 82.3001 — in Bole, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Ili Yining International Airport, about 130 km away.
Does ZWBL publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for ZWBL appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Bole Alashankou Airport?
Bole Alashankou Airport has one runway. The longest, 10/28, measures 8,530 ft (2600 m).