Construction has started on a new airport in China's south western Yunnan province, near the popular tourist destination Lugu Lake.

Lugu Lake Airport will be 35km from Lugu Lake, covering 1.8 square kilometres with a 4,000 square metre terminal building, reports the state-run China Daily, quoting Yunnan provincial aviation officials.

The airport will cost 837 million yuan ($122.6 million) to build, and it is hoped the airport will boost local tourism.

Lugu Lake is 2.6 kilometres above sea level on the border of China's Yunnan and Sichuan province. It is home to the Masuo people, famous for their matriarchal culture.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news