China is set to break global records with the construction of the largest artificial island airport, in Dalian, a port city in northeastern China.
The project is estimated to cost $4.3 billion and is slated for completion in 2035, according to a South China Morning Post report.
“The country’s largest offshore airport is rising slowly from the sea level like the sunrise in the east,” according to a post by Dalian Jinzhou Bay International on the Chinese social media platform WeChat.
The Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport will cover a vast area of 20 square kilometers (7.7 square miles), surpassing Hong Kong International Airport (12.48 sq km) and Japan’s Kansai International Airport (10.5 sq km).
Four runways to handle 80 million passengers annually
The ambitious project includes four runways and a 900,000-square-meter (9.69 million sq ft) passenger terminal, designed to manage 43 million passengers annually in its initial phase, eventually increasing to 80 million passengers per year.
The development will alleviate pressure on the current Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport, originally built by the Japanese, which now accommodates 658,000 international passengers annually.
A statement from the Airports Council International highlighted the strategic importance of the new airport in supporting regional connectivity and relieving the existing infrastructure.
The Liaoning Provincial Government emphasized the use of cutting-edge land reclamation techniques for the project. Millions of cubic meters of sand and rock are being utilized to construct the artificial island, with over 77,000 square meters of deep ground work completed by August 2024.
Terminal foundation and land reclamation work are currently ongoing, while construction of the terminal complex and its viaduct pile foundation commenced on October 12, 2024.
Infrastructure challenges and opportunities
Linked to the mainland via bridges, the island airport faces potential risks, including earthquakes, storms, and shipping collisions, which could isolate it from the mainland. Critics have also flagged potential visibility issues due to its superior valley location among mountains.
Despite these concerns, the project is set to benefit Dalian’s six-million-strong population and its industries, including logistics, oil refining, and tourism.
The airport is one of 22 ongoing airport projects in China, representing a total investment of $19.6 billion, according to CAPA-Centre for Aviation. Aviation consultant Li Hanming noted Dalian to be “truly the largest airport of its kind.”
Timeline and progress
Construction on the project began in earnest only in recent years, though site selection and preliminary work started in 2003. By August 2023, significant progress had been made, including the completion of deep foundation treatments over 77,000 square meters of reclaimed land. Ongoing work includes further land reclamation and laying foundations for the terminal building, with the first phase of the airport slated to open in 2035.