China is constructing what is claimed to be the world’s largest artificial-island airport to bolster Dalian, a north-eastern city and transport hub.
As per the Liaoning provincial government’s website, Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport will span an island covering 20km², reported South China Morning Post (SCMP).
This size surpasses both Hong Kong International Airport, which covers 12.48km², and the 10.5km² Kansai Airport in Japan, both of which are also located on artificial islands.
The new airport is expected to significantly contribute to Dalian's economy, a city already engaged in trade with Japan and South Korea due to its strategic location, according to the news agency.
Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport will be the first artificial-island airport on mainland China's coast. It is planned to feature four runways and a terminal area of 900,000m².
Initially, the terminal buildings will handle 43 million passengers annually, more than double the capacity of Dalian's current airport, and are being designed to accommodate up to 80 million passengers yearly, according to Airports Council International.
The facility is also expected to manage one million tonnes of cargo annually.
The airport has an investment of $4.3bn, with completion targeted for 2035.
As of August this year, the provincial government's website reported the completion of "deep foundation treatment" on a 77,000m² reclaimed area.
Plans were also set for further land reclamation and laying of the terminal buildings' foundations.
Dalian's existing airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport, has been operational for nearly a century and has reached its maximum capacity after several expansions, according to SCMP.
