An aerial view of Daxing International Airport in Beijing

© Xinhua/Alam

Wheels up in Beijing. Wheels up in Beijing

Today marks the opening of the Daxing International Airport in Beijing. Constructed to alleviate pressure on the city's existing airport, Beijing Capital International, the bright orange starfish lookalike took more than four years to construct. And travellers, hold onto your hats, because Daxing International will connect to China's capital city via high-speed train that travels at top speeds of more than 320 kmph.

Occupying 29 square kilometres of land and boasting the largest passenger terminal in the world, the structure was partially designed by legendary architect Zaha Hadid, who also masterminded China's Guangzhou Opera House. In a nod to traditional Chinese architecture, the building consists of a central hub with six curved spokes—bringing organization to the interconnected spaces around a central courtyard and minimizing the building's environmental footprint. Inside, passengers will feel like they’re in anything but an airport with dark, polished-stone floors and white ceilings that open intermittently to big, beautiful skylights.