Beijings Airport Opens 2-Mile Long Mega-Terminal
Friday, February 29, 2008 7:17:45 AM
If you're booking a connecting flight in Beijing, you better start getting yourself in shape.
The airports' colossal new airport terminal opened on Friday, spanning 2 miles in length, and covering 245 acres of floor space. This is the equivalent of about 170 football fields!
The first commercial plane touched down at 8:39am, a landmark moment for the Chinese capital as it prepares for the Olympics.
Designed to appear like a giant dragon, the terminal is the largest covered structure ever built, according to its British architect Norman Foster.
Beijing's old two terminals have been running above capacity for years and the upgraded airport was built in time to cope with the huge influx of visitors expected for the Olympics in August.