China has unveiled bold new plans to build a £4 billion artificial island airport which would be the largest of its kind in the world.
With the capacity to accommodate 80 million people, the proposed airport would be significantly larger than Hong Kong international airport and Japan’s Kansai airport.
Located in the city of Dalian, the airport would revolutionise the area’s connectivity with the rest of the country, turning a 16-mile square area into one of the most modern and futuristic airports in the world.
Work on the project is underway but completion of the ambitious project is not expected to be for another 11 years.
The city is a hub for oil refining, shipping, logistics, and tourism and its strategic geographic position means the airport will play a vital role in the region’s continued prosperity.
Known as The Jinzhouwan Airport, the completed project will have four runways and a huge 900,000-square-metre (9.69 million sq ft) terminal.
Initially capable of holding 43 million visitors, this capacity will nearly double in the years following its opening.
The existing airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport, struggles to accommodate the level of demand required of a modern China.
Built under Japanese occupation, the antiquated airport is now constrained by its location in a valley surrounded by mountains.
The odd choice of location for an airport means that pilots often struggle to navigate, especially in poor conditions and the airport is unable to expand any further despite increased demand placed upon it.
Construction is already underway with and in August, the deep foundation treatment of a 77,000 square metre reclaimed area was finished, a crucial first step in the ambitious project allowing planners to prepare the ground for building on soft or unstable soil.