Giant Airport for China's Ambitions

A giant airport for China's vast ambition

It is more like a small country than an airport terminal. Its architects, Foster and Partners, describe Beijing's new airport terminal as the biggest building in the world.

It is larger than all the terminals of London's Heathrow airport put together.

China wants to make an impact.

If you ever manage to get out here, China wants you to be impressed, preferably awe-struck, as soon as you land.


Beijing's terminal is twice the size and about half the cost of Heathrow's new Terminal Five, which is due to open next month.

Beijing has got from start to finish in four years. Heathrow has taken nearly 20.

Of course, in China the government does not have to ask the public's permission to do what it wants.

That's quite a record ...4 yrs, where Heathrow did it in 20.

The record unrivaled holds Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok's hightech airodrome, they had to use 47 yrs to make a new airport.

...and they only had troubles since.
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