China is currently working on a mega airport project that will see it handle a whopping 80 million passengers per year.
The £4 billion airport will be built on a 20 square kilometre area, making it the world’s largest artificial island airport.
This development, no doubt, will set new heights for the huge country’s infrastructure, which is already recognised as some of the most well-developed in the world.
Dalian Jinxhouwan International Airport is expected to be completed in 2035, and once it is in operation, it is planned to host one million tonnes of cargo; with that capacity, it will make the airport a key component in the country’s travel industry.
Located in northeastern China, the port city of Dalian is a financial, shipping and logistics hub for East Asia.
The city boasts multiple beaches making it a popular holiday destination for both domestic and international visitors, especially from Japan, South Korea and Russia.
While the coastal getaway city already has the Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport, the existing airport comes with many limitations.
Built during the Japanese occupation, the airport is found in a valley surrounded by mountains, which causes a challenge for pilots navigating their way, especially during poor weather conditions.
The airport has also undergone multiple expansions and has reached its capacity limit. Last year, it served 658,000 passengers, over 121 times less than what the new airport is expected to handle.
So, to overcome these limitations, China has already started the construction of the artificial island that will house the new Jinzhouwan International Airport.
Deep foundation treatment of the 77,000 square metre area was completed in August to prepare the ground for building on soft or unstable soil.
The airport will feature four new runways and a 900,000-square-metre terminal. It is already boosting the city’s economy by creating new jobs and once it is completed, tourism and trade in the city are also expected to increase.
