Beijing, Sep 10 (IANS): The world's highest civilian airport, Daocheng Yading Airport in China situated at a height of 4,411 metres above sea level, is expected to start operating from Sep 16, the country's tourism authorities announced Tuesday.

Located in southwest China's Sichuan province, the airport will cut travel time between Dacheng county and the provincial capital of Chengdu from two days by bus to 65 minutes by plane, Xinhua reported.

The airport will initially operate a daily route from Chengdu to Daocheng with the cost of a one-way ticket placed at $259.70. More flights are likely to be added by Oct 1.

Routes connecting the county to the mega-cities of Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xi'an are expected to open in 2014.

The airport is 159 km from Yading Nature Reserve in the eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

For its scenery, Yading is known as "the last Shangri-La" and "the last pure land on the blue planet".

Bangda Airport of Qamdo in Tibet, located 4,334 metres above sea level, previously held the record as the world's highest airport.