Daxing airport to become engine of regional growth

Beijing Daxing International Airport was toured by media representatives from several countries and regions to learn about progress in its construction on Thursday.

The airport, scheduled to be completed on June 30 and open on Sept 30, aims to be a comprehensive international transportation hub. It is planned to be a new engine for the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, including the emerging Xiongan New Area, local officials said.

The airport is projected to have an annual passenger throughput of more than 100 million passengers and an annual cargo throughput of 4 million metric tons in the long run.

The current phase is being built based on the goal that its passenger throughput will hit 72 million and the cargo throughput reach 2 million tons by 2025. It is designed with four runways and a 700,000-square-meter terminal building, as well as other support facilities for airlines and onboard catering services, cargo shipment, oil supply and maintenance.

Construction of the airport's main structure has been completed and builders are now busy with interior furnishing and the installment and debugging of electromechanical devices.

The journalists were briefed on the airport's general planning, transportation systems, innovation in and schedule of the construction.

In terms of comprehensive transportation, the airport will become the world's first with a high-speed rail line passing underneath it, local officials said. High-speed trains can reach a maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour below the terminal building.

Shaped like a golden phoenix spreading its wings to welcome passengers from China and abroad, the Daxing airport design has a maximum of eight-minutes walk, or 600 meters, between the center of the terminal and the farthest boarding gate.

The terminal building integrates traditional Chinese architectural elements and the world's leading construction concepts.

The airport will also be equipped with rich business and leisure facilities, a highly-efficient luggage transport system and comprehensive supporting services.

Eco-friendliness has been a focus in the construction of the airport and it aims to become a forerunner of low-carbon airports, a practitioner of green buildings and an environmentally friendly demonstration airport.

Clean energy has been emphasized in the airport's design, which includes renewable energy systems such as solar power. Renewable energy accounts for more than 10 percent of the airport's total energy consumption.

Officials plan to build China's first photovoltaic power generation system in the flight area. The solar power system will also be widely used on the roofs of buildings and in the cargo area, parking structures and corporate aircraft hangars.

The architects have an overall plan for the collection, treatment and reuse of water resources. Among the airport's environmental goals is the collection of rainwater and treatment of sewage. It will make full use of recycled water to replace some 30 percent of water use from conventional supply sources.

Ihab Mujahed, an Addstour newspaper journalist from Jordan, said during the tour that he gave a gasp of amazement at the airport project, not only because of its construction quality and architectural design, but also due to its profound impact on the regional economy and international exchanges.

Salih Salma from Sudan News Agency dubbed the project the eighth world wonder and said she expected to land at the new airport next time she flies to China.

songmengxing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/27/2019 page11)