The airport started construction in Winter 1932 and opened in the following year in November. During the Canton Operation, the Japanese Navy invaded the airport and expanded the runway. In 1963, the People's Liberation Army Air Force moved away from the airport, making the airport only for public use. The name of the airport is changed to "Baiyun" named from nearby Baiyun Mountain ("Baiyun" in Chinese means "white cloud"). Due to the expansion of Guangzhou, the airport could not expand to meet passengers needs. On August 5, 2004, the new Baiyun airport opened and the old airport was closed.