An aerial view of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, China

© Xinhua/Alam

Wheels up in Beijing. Wheels up in Beijing

Today marks the opening of the Daxing International Airport in Beijing. Constructed to ease pressure on the city's existing airport, Beijing Capital International, the bright orange starfish building took more than four years to construct. And hold on to your hats, because Daxing International will connect to China's capital city via high-speed train that travels at top speeds of more than 200mph.

Occupying 18 square miles of land and boasting the largest passenger terminal in the world, the structure was partially designed by legendary British-Iraqi 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 organisation to the interconnected spaces around a central courtyard and minimising the building's environmental footprint. Inside, passengers won’t feel like they’re in an airport, as it features dark, polished stone floors and white ceilings that open intermittently to big, beautiful skylights.