Structures and Facilities
The island has an artificial harbor capable of docking vessages of 5,000 tonnage. As of 2008 the island's main sea transportation is the freighter Qiongsha-3, with a tonnage of 2,500 tonnes, length and width of 84 and 13.8 metres respectively, load of 200 passengers and cargo payload of 750 tonnes. Qiongsha-3 is the only means of sea transportation to and from the island for non-military personnel such as fishermen and researchers. Each trip lasts between 13 to 15 hours.
The Yongxing Island Airport was completed in July 1990, with a 2,700-metre runway that is capable of handling any third-generation fighter aircraft of the Chinese airforce such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKK. Since 2005, the main air transportation to and from the island involves chartered flights on Xian Y-7 60-seat propeller aircraft which link to Haikou Meilan International Airport on Hainan proper. Other constructions include three main roads and a 800-metre long cement bank connecting the island and Rocky Island (Shi Dao).
Apart from government buildings and army posts, the island has various establishments. The island's administrative centre is located on Beijing Road, which has an Industrial and Commercial Bank of China branch, a hospital, various shops, hostels, food stations, a post office, small department stores and an aquatic company. A rescue centre on the island was established on 15 July 2006.
There are two museums on the island that are tourist attractions - Xisha Maritime Museum and a Naval Museum. Other tourist attractions include towers left by the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII, a monument erected by the ROC government in 1946, and a monument erected by the PRC in 1974. Tourists to the island are required to obtain approval from the Chinese authorities in Haikou before departure. Hiring a fishing boat from Hainan to the island is possible.
On 10 April 2011, China National Radio and Hainan People's Broadcasting Station began broadcasting FM Radio on the island, in addition to mobile communications and satellite television which was made available in the fishing villages.
Read more about this topic: Woody Island (South China Sea)
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