China plans to build a commercial airport at an altitude of 4,436m (14,544ft) in Tibet, making it the world's highest airport.
Construction at Nagqu prefecture in northern Tibet is due to commence in 2011 and be completed in three years, say news reports in China's state-run media, quoting from local government and Civil Aviation Administration of China officials.
Nagqu is about 300 kilometres from the Tibetan capital Lhasa, which has an airport at 3,600m. The record holder is Tibet's Bamda airport, in Bangda Qamdo, which is at 4,334m.
China is building transport links to Tibet in an effort to connect Tibet more closely to other parts of the vast country.