Wonders of New China

Beijing International Airport, Beijing

The airport terminal will cover more than 1 million square meters, giving it a bigger footprint than the Pentagon. It’s designed to handle 43 million passengers a year initially and 55 million by 2015, figures that will probably push the new facility into the ranks of the top 10 busiest airports. The architects also kept sustainability in mind: An environmental-control system reduces carbon emissions, and skylights situated on a south-east axis lessen solar heat, keeping the building cool.

© 2010 Asia | Art | Culture & Travel.