I concur. SHA is a much larger domestic air hub with a high-speed train station next to it. It is a real air/rail hub with a truly national network reach. SHA is also much closer to Shanghai's city centre.

for most of the Japanese travellers outside major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Nagoya, they usually have to fly domestically to airports like Narita and Kansai before commencing their international journeys. it means that they need two stops anyway. the CI's itinearay that you mentioned ...

Thanks for the clarification. I was wondering what on earth did they plan the stopover at SIN outbound but not inbound. If it was to open SIN-AMS market it was not going work. Now it's clear the rationale is operational.

it's also the one that came up to my mind. similar to Toronto City Airport, but surrounding is even more scenic with Christ the Redeemer, etc.

landing at HK's old airport (Kai Tak) was much more dramatic. you approached towards Checkerboard Hill, made a sharp turn, flew over old chinese-style residential building, saw people hanging laundry, then landed on the runway.