China Military Bases & Installations
OSINT intelligence database · Source: Open-source analysis · Verified 2025
Anqing Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: 28th Bomber Regiment — H-6K/H-6N strategic bomber
H-6K/H-6N long-range bomber. CJ-20 ALCM. YJ-12 anti-ship. Taiwan Strait eastern axis. Nuclear capable.
Strategic: H-6N modified for aerial refuelling — extends range to first-island chain and beyond. CJ-20 ALCM can strike Guam.
Anshan Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: 1st Fighter Brigade — J-20A stealth fighter
J-20A stealth fighter. DPRK border 200km. Korea contingency. Yellow Sea air denial.
Strategic: J-20A 5th-gen stealth deployed here — primary DPRK/Korea contingency fighter unit. Counters F-22/F-35.
Bailian Air Base (Liuzhou)
Air Base
Garrison: 126th Fighter Brigade — JH-7A strike
JH-7A. Guangxi Province. Vietnam border axis. SCS western approach.
Strategic: Vietnam border contingency base. Gulf of Tonkin proximity. Historical 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War axis.
Baishiyi Air Base (Chongqing)
Air Base
Garrison: 98th Fighter Brigade (J-11, J-16, Su-27), 99th Fighter Brigade (JH-7A)
J-11/J-16/Su-27. Two co-located fighter brigades. Central China hub. Su-27 domestic ops.
Strategic: Double brigade base — concentrated mass. Strategic reserve for Taiwan or India contingency.
Changsha Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: 54th Air Brigade Su-30MKK, H-6 production (Changsha factory)
Su-30MKK strike. H-6 bomber production adjacent. Central China logistics node.
Strategic: Adjacent to AVIC H-6 production facility — aircraft delivered direct to operational unit.
Chaoyangchuan Air Base (Yanji)
Air Base
Garrison: 61st Fighter Brigade — J-10
Russia/DPRK border. Tumen River triangle (China-Russia-DPRK). Three-way border contingency.
Strategic: China-Russia-DPRK triple-border junction. Unique strategic geography. DPRK collapse contingency staging.
Chifeng Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: 2nd Fighter Brigade — J-10C
J-10C. Inner Mongolia. Northern approach air defence. Mongolia/Russia border.
Strategic: Northern China air defence. J-10C modern delta-canard 4.5-gen. Russia border proximity.
Dazu Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: H-6K bomber regiment
H-6K strategic bomber. CJ-20 cruise missile. Tibet/India axis long-range strike. Nuclear-capable.
Strategic: H-6K enables China to strike targets 2,000km+ with cruise missiles. India LAC targets within range.
Fuzhou Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: J-11B/J-16 fighter regiment
Taiwan Strait QRA. Closest major PLAAF base to Taiwan (290km). Air superiority mission.
Strategic: Closest mainland base to Taiwan. J-11B/J-16 can reach Taiwan in under 10 minutes. Taiwan ADIZ intrusions staged here.
Gaoqi Air Base (Xiamen)
Air Base
Garrison: Fighter regiment — J-11B, J-20 rotation
J-11B air superiority. J-20 rotational. Closest base to Kinmen/Matsu islands. Dual-use civilian airport.
Strategic: Xiamen faces Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands (3km). Most politically sensitive PLAAF location.
Gonggar Air Base (Lhasa Tibet)
Air Base
Garrison: J-10, J-11, KJ-500 AEW — Tibet garrison
World's highest military airport (3,569m). Tibet air defence. India LAC proximity. High-altitude operations.
Strategic: KJ-500 AEW deployed Tibet — tracks Indian Air Force movements. J-11 can reach Indian airspace. LAC air contingency.
Haikou Naval Air Base
Naval Air Station
Garrison: PLANAF Y-8/Y-9 maritime patrol, H-6J naval bomber, J-15 carrier training
Naval air Hainan. H-6J anti-ship bomber. Maritime patrol. J-15 carrier air wing operations.
Strategic: H-6J dedicated naval variant with YJ-12 anti-ship missile — carrier killer. Hainan gateway to SCS.
Hetian Air Base (Hotan Xinjiang)
Air Base
Garrison: Fighter regiment — J-11/J-16, transport
Xinjiang southern air defence. India/Pakistan border proximity. Afghan border access. High-altitude Karakoram.
Strategic: Pakistan CPEC corridor air cover. India LAC western terminus. Afghan air access post-Taliban.
Jianqiao Air Base (Hangzhou)
Air Base
Garrison: 83rd Fighter Brigade — J-10C/J-16
J-10C/J-16 Taiwan Strait air superiority. East China Sea patrol. Su-30 replacement.
Strategic: J-16 multi-role fighter with YJ-12 anti-ship — primary anti-carrier platform. Taiwan contingency.
Jiaxing Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: 84th Fighter Brigade — JH-7A/J-16 strike
JH-7A/J-16 deep strike. Taiwan Strait. Anti-ship. Close to Shanghai economic heartland.
Strategic: Taiwan Strait strike axis. J-16 replacing JH-7A for precision strike. Taiwan air defence SEAD role.
Jining Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: 55th Fighter Brigade — J-11B/Su-27
J-11B air superiority. Central China plateau. Yellow Sea access. Korea contingency reserve.
Strategic: Central PRC reserve air power. J-11B — Chinese-built Su-27 derivative, capable air superiority.
Kashi Air Base (Kashgar Xinjiang)
Air Base
Garrison: Fighter regiment — J-10/J-16
Five-country proximity (Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India). Westernmost major PLAAF base.
Strategic: BRI/CPEC corridor air security. Central Asia access. Five-nation border junction.
Langtou Air Base (Dandong)
Air Base
Garrison: Fighter regiment — J-11B/J-16
DPRK border 2km. Korean War legacy. Emergency staging for Korean peninsula contingency.
Strategic: Right on DPRK border. Yalu River crossing point. Korean War air battle history. Rapid Korea intervention capability.
Leiyang Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: J-20 stealth fighter regiment
J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter. 5th-gen fighter. Southern China/SCS air denial. VLO radar cross-section.
Strategic: J-20 operational 2017. 150+ in service. Closing gap with F-35 in stealth. 5th-gen now deployed across multiple bases.
Leiyang Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: J-20 regiment — 5th generation stealth fighter
J-20 Mighty Dragon. Southern China deployment. SCS air denial. Vietnam/India axis.
Strategic: Second identified J-20 southern base. Expanding 5th-gen fleet — 200+ J-20 in service by 2025.
Liancheng Air Base (Longyan)
Air Base
Garrison: Fighter/attack regiment — Su-30MKK2
Su-30MKK2 strike. Taiwan axis. Fujian Province. Anti-ship.
Strategic: Su-30MKK2 with Russian-origin targeting used for Taiwan Strait combat patrols.
Luqiao Air Base (Taizhou)
Air Base
Garrison: Fighter regiment — J-10C
J-10C. Zhejiang coast. Taiwan Strait air operations. Taiwan axis.
Strategic: Taiwan Strait proximity. J-10C entering service replacing older aircraft.
Ngari Gunsa Air Base (Tibet)
Air Base
Garrison: Fighter det., helicopter regiment, India LAC support
4,500m altitude. India border 50km. Aksai Chin proximity. Extreme western Tibet reach.
Strategic: India's most feared PLAAF base — directly threatens Ladakh. China-India LAC western sector base.
Shadi Air Base (Foshan)
Air Base
Garrison: 4th Fighter Brigade — J-20 stealth fighter
J-20 stealth 5th-gen. Guangdong hub. SCS air patrol. Hong Kong proximity.
Strategic: J-20 deployed Foshan — southern China stealth capability. First SCS J-20 base identified.
Shigatse Air Base (Tibet)
Air Base
Garrison: Fighter regiment — J-11B, H-6 bomber det.
5,000m runway — longest in China. Tibet high-altitude ops. Bhutan/Nepal/India border proximity.
Strategic: Runway length enables heavy aircraft at high altitude. India border 60km. H-6 bomber stationed here intermittently.
Subi Reef Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: HQ-9B SAM, YJ-12B ASCM, radar arrays, runway 3,000m
Artificial island. 3,000m runway. HQ-9B SAM. YJ-12B anti-ship. AESA radar. Electronic warfare.
Strategic: Part of the SCS 'unsinkable carrier' network alongside Fiery Cross and Mischief Reef. PCA ruling ignored.
Wuyishan Air Base
Air Base
Garrison: Su-35 regiment, J-16 regiment
Su-35 air superiority. J-16 strike. Taiwan Strait coverage. Advanced Russian aircraft integration.
Strategic: Su-35 acquired from Russia for advanced air combat. Positioned for Taiwan Strait air operations.
Dalian Naval Base
Naval Base
Garrison: PLAN shipyard, Type 052D destroyers, Bohai Sea patrol
PLAN major shipyard complex. Type 055/052D construction. Carrier refit. North Sea Fleet support.
Strategic: Shandong carrier built in Dalian. Type 055 Renhai cruiser construction. PLAN industrial heart.
Fiery Cross Reef (Yǒngshū Reef)
Island Base / ASBMM Platform
Garrison: HQ-9 SAM batteries, YJ-12B ASCMs, J-11B fighters, radar arrays
Artificial island fortress. 3,000m runway. HQ-9 SAM. YJ-12B anti-ship missiles. Airborne early warning. Contested under UNCLOS.
Strategic: Declared illegal by 2016 PCA ruling. China ignores. Controls critical SCS air-sea lanes. Militarisation accelerating.
Guangzhou Naval Base
Naval Base
Garrison: South Sea Fleet support, amphibious forces, Type 071 LPD
PLAN SCS amphibious hub. Type 071 LPD — amphibious assault ship. Marine Corps embarkation.
Strategic: PLAN Marine Corps amphibious staging. Type 071 LPD used for Taiwan and SCS island seizure exercises.
Huludao Submarine Base
Naval Base
Garrison: Type 094A SSBN, Type 093 SSN, North Sea Fleet submarine arm
SSBN construction and homeport. Type 094A (Jin-class) primary Pacific nuclear deterrent. JL-2/JL-3 SLBM capable.
Strategic: PLAN SSBN primary construction site. JL-3 SLBM range reaches CONUS from Bohai — strategic deterrent upgrade.
Jianggezhuang Submarine Base (Qingdao)
Naval Base
Garrison: Type 094A SSBN, Han/Shang-class SSN, underground tunnel complex
Underground sub pens. SSBN operations Yellow Sea bastion. CIA confirmed nuclear submarine base. SSN attack capability.
Strategic: Primary PLAN submarine base East China. Underground tunnel conceals submarines from ISR. JL-3 SLBM operational.
Mischief Reef (Měijì Reef)
Island Base
Garrison: Naval garrison, SAM batteries, radar systems
3,000m runway. Deep-water pier. Artificial island inside Philippines EEZ (PCA). Air/naval patrol hub.
Strategic: Within Philippines EEZ. Direct challenge to international law. Philippine resupply missions vs Chinese water cannon ongoing.
Ningbo Naval Base (East Sea Fleet HQ)
Naval Base
Garrison: East Sea Fleet HQ, Type 052D destroyers, Type 054A frigates, Type 039 submarines
East Sea Fleet HQ. Taiwan Strait maritime operations. Type 052D. Type 054A. ECS patrol.
Strategic: Commands Taiwan Strait naval operations. East Sea Fleet conducts most PLAN Taiwan Strait exercises.
PLA Support Base DjiboutiOVERSEAS
Naval Support Base
Garrison: PLAN logistics, naval infantry company, SSF SIGINT collection
PLAN's only confirmed overseas military base. Logistics, refuelling, crew rotation. SIGINT collection proximate to US Camp Lemonnier.
Strategic: 5km from US Camp Lemonier. Part of String of Pearls strategy. PLAN demonstrates blue-water reach.
Qingdao Naval Base (Yuchi / North Sea Fleet HQ)
Naval Base
Garrison: North Sea Fleet HQ, Liaoning CV-16, Jianggezhuang SSN/SSBN complex, Type 055 destroyers
North Sea Fleet HQ. Liaoning carrier homeport. SSN/SSBN complex. Type 055 Renhai destroyer. Yellow Sea control.
Strategic: China's first carrier Liaoning homeported here. NSF the original elite fleet — first nuclear subs, first destroyers.
Ream Naval Base (Cambodia)OVERSEAS
Naval Base
Garrison: PLAN rotational warship presence, construction ongoing
Gulf of Thailand access. Vietnam maritime flanking. Malacca Strait proximity. Strategic presence expanding.
Strategic: Confirmed PLAN rotational deployment 2023. Second confirmed overseas PLAN facility. Flanks Vietnam, threatens US access.
Sanya Naval Base
Naval Base
Garrison: South Sea Fleet HQ, Liaoning carrier air wing, Type 052D destroyers
PLAN South Sea Fleet HQ. Carrier Liaoning operations. SCS patrol hub. Rapidly modernised.
Strategic: Adjacent to Yulin. Sanya the primary PLAN surface base for SCS assertive operations.
Yulin Naval Base (Hainan)
Naval Base
Garrison: Jin-class SSBN, Tang-class SSN, Luyang-III destroyers, carrier support
Deep water submarine pen (1,100m depth). SSBN bastion. Carrier homeport. Underground tunnels hide submarines from ISR.
Strategic: Underground submarine facility. Jin/Tang SSBN homeport. PLAN's primary SCS nuclear deterrent node.
Zhanjiang Naval Base
Naval Base
Garrison: South Sea Fleet HQ, Fujian carrier (CV-18), Type 055 Renhai cruisers
South Sea Fleet primary base. Fujian carrier homeport (CATOBAR, EM catapults). Type 055 destroyer.
Strategic: PLAN's most capable carrier Fujian (EM catapults, 80,000t) homeported here. Enables air wing comparable to US CVN.
Zhoushan Naval Base
Naval Base
Garrison: Type 039 Song/Yuan-class SSK, Type 093B Shang SSN, East Sea submarine force
East Sea submarine base. SSN operations. Taiwan Strait underwater domain. ASW exercises.
Strategic: East Sea Fleet submarine primary base. Type 093B SSN anti-carrier role. Taiwan blockade capability.
Central Theatre Command HQ (Wuhan)
Command HQ
Garrison: CTC joint command, 82nd Group Army, 83rd Group Army
Central China operational command. Rapid reaction to multiple AORs. Internal security/stability reserve.
Strategic: Central reserve for force multiplication any direction. Key node linking Eastern/Western/Northern/Southern commands.
Eastern Theatre Command HQ
Command HQ
Garrison: ETC joint command, PLA Air Force 9th Corps, 71st Group Army
Taiwan Strait operational authority. Joint theatre command integrating army, navy, air, rocket forces for Taiwan contingency.
Strategic: Primary command responsible for Taiwan Strait operations. Exercises simulate blockade/invasion. Joint fire corridors established.
Eastern Theatre Command HQ (Nanjing/Fuzhou)
Command HQ
Garrison: ETC Joint Command, 71st/72nd/73rd/74th Group Armies, PLAN East Sea Fleet, PLAAF ETCAF
Taiwan Strait joint operations command. Naval blockade planning. Amphibious assault exercises.
Strategic: Commands all PLA forces for Taiwan contingency. Joint fire corridors across strait established. Annual exercises.
Golmud PLARF Complex (Qinghai)
Missile Base
Garrison: DF-26 IRBM brigade (under development), DF-17 HGV potential
DF-26 'Guam killer' (4,000km). DF-17 hypersonic glide. Tibet plateau — India within range. Under expansion 2024.
Strategic: Newly identified October 2024 by The Diplomat. DF-26 threatens Guam and India simultaneously from this location.
Hami ICBM Silo Field (Xinjiang)
Missile Base
Garrison: 110 ICBM silos — DF-41 missiles
110 DF-41 ICBM silos. MIRV capable. 14,000km range covers CONUS. Xinjiang desert hardened silos.
Strategic: FAS identified 110 silos July 2021. Along with Yumen — represents 3x expansion of Chinese ICBM silo capacity.
Northern Theatre Command HQ (Shenyang)
Command HQ
Garrison: NTC HQ, 78th Group Army, 79th Group Army, 80th Group Army
Korea/Russia border operational command. DPRK contingency planning. Russian border security.
Strategic: Commands China-DPRK and China-Russia borders. Korea contingency force. Closest command to potential Korean war.
Northern Theatre Ground Forces (Shenyang)
Command HQ
Garrison: 78th/79th/80th Group Armies, Type 99A MBT, PHL-03 rocket artillery
Korea/Russia border operations. Type 99A MBT (125mm gun, reactive armour). PHL-03 300km rocket artillery.
Strategic: Commands DPRK border. Type 99A is China's most capable MBT. DPRK collapse contingency — China has detailed plans.
PLA Outpost Tajikistan (Murghab)OVERSEAS
Army Base
Garrison: PLA border security force
PLA's second confirmed overseas facility. Afghan border proximity. Counterterrorism. Xinjiang security extension.
Strategic: Low-profile. Confirms PLA expanding overseas footprint beyond Djibouti. Tajikistan agreed in 2016.
PLARF Base 61 (Huangshan — DF-21D/DF-26)
Missile Base
Garrison: DF-21D ASBM (6 brigades), DF-26 IRBM, underground tunnel system
DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile (1,500km). DF-26 (4,000km). First ASBM to target US carriers. Underground silos.
Strategic: DF-21D 'carrier killer' — first anti-ship ballistic missile in world. DF-26 first weapon to threaten Guam from China.
PLARF Base 61 (Huangshan)
Missile Base
Garrison: DF-21D ASBM, DF-26 IRBM, underground silo complex
Anti-ship ballistic missiles (DF-21D 'carrier killer'). DF-26 IRBM. Underground launch facilities. Hardened silos.
Strategic: DF-21D 1,500km range targets US carriers. DF-26 4,000km — first ASBM capable of targeting Guam.
PLARF Base 62 (Kunming — DF-21/DF-31)
Missile Base
Garrison: DF-21C MRBM, DF-31AG ICBM — India/Southeast Asia axis
DF-21C medium range. DF-31AG ICBM. India/Southeast Asia targets. Yunnan Province.
Strategic: DF-31AG MIRV ICBM deployed — second-strike survivable. India within DF-21C range from here.
Southern Theatre Command HQ (Guangzhou)
Command HQ
Garrison: STC Joint Command, 74th/75th Group Armies, PLAN South Sea Fleet, PLAAF STCAF
SCS operational command. Vietnam/Philippines border. ASEAN contingency. PLAN SCS fleet command.
Strategic: Commands SCS assertiveness operations. Spratly Island campaign command authority. ASEAN coercion platform.
Tibet Military District (Lhasa)
Army Base
Garrison: Tibet Military District — mountain infantry, Type 15 light tank, PLZ-07B howitzer
High-altitude warfare. Type 15 light tank (optimised for Tibet). Mountain artillery. India LAC confrontation force.
Strategic: Post-Galwan 2020 massive reinforcement. Type 15 lightweight MBT deployed Tibet — specifically designed to counter Indian forces at altitude.
Western Theatre Command HQ
Command HQ
Garrison: WTC HQ, Tibet Military District, Xinjiang Military District, 77th Group Army
India/LAC operational authority. Tibet plateau operations. Xinjiang internal security. Central Asia border.
Strategic: Commands India border (LAC). Galwan Valley forces. Xinjiang surveillance-military complex.
Xinjiang Military District (Urumqi)
Army Base
Garrison: 47th Group Army elements, surveillance/internal security, border forces
Central Asia border. Internal security. Xinjiang surveillance network integration with military.
Strategic: Xinjiang police-military fusion — largest surveillance state military apparatus on Earth. CPEC protection.
Yumen ICBM Silo Field (Gansu)
Missile Base
Garrison: 119 ICBM silos under development — DF-31A/DF-41 missiles
119 ICBM silos. DF-41 MIRV (3-5 warheads, 14,000km). DF-31AG mobile reserve. Rapid nuclear breakout.
Strategic: Largest ICBM silo field in China. Discovered by commercial satellite 2021. Operational 2024-2025. Game-changing nuclear expansion.
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