SEPT 28 BEIJING'S NEW DAXING AIRPORT IS PHENOMENAL

SEPT 28  BEIJING'S NEW DAXING AIRPORT IS PHENOMENAL

Once again, the DUNER BLOG turns its attention to the People's Republic of China for yet another engineering achievement. Last time, it was the Shanghai-Beijing 300 km/hr bullet train above the ground. Before that, it was a record-setting skyscraper. This time, it's the opening of Daxing International Airport in Beijing. Xi Jinping was there, cutting the ribbon at the main concourse. He called it an "airport built for the future." Let's see why..

THE DESIGN.  Nicknamed the starfish, Daxing has five identical concourses connecting in the middle. Architect Zaha Hadid researched what angers airline passengers the most. Unsurprisingly, the top gripe is walking long distances. So she drew up this new scheme that guarantees travelers won't have to walk more than 600 meters from security to the most remote gate.

THE CEILING. The word used most often to describe PKX (its official abbreviation) is sparkling. This is because the ceiling is comprised of 8,000 super-shiny windows. They are set at differing angles and reflect the sun's rays to every corner of the terminal. That's a lot of ground to cover. Ginormous Daxing is a whopping 700,000 square meters...about 100 soccer fields.

THE GARDENS. Growing in this ample sunlight are five ancient-Chinese style gardens. The main concourse has the China Garden, complete with a Koi Pond. You can also unwind in the Countryside Garden or sip tea in the Tea Garden. We'll pass on the Porcelain and Silk Gardens.

THE SECURITY. Perhaps the most impressive innovation is the new security technology. Instead of showing your passport at check-in...then again at security...then one more time at boarding...at Daxing International you'll only need your smile. 5G facial recognition upon entry will be relayed to security and the departure gate, so put that passport away. This tech can process 260 people in one minute.

THE ROBOTS. Another complaint Zaha Hadid encountered about airports was a lack of assistance from staff. To aid the human employees, a fleet of artificial intelligence-powered smart robots roam the terminal. They'll help you find a parking sport, tell you your gate number, deliver your food and message your back.

The timing of the opening was critical. See, Tuesday is October the First, the top Communist holiday in the People's Republic of China. Since the PRC is turning 70 this year, Xi Jinping wanted the give the country a real nice present. Most importantly, Daxing is projected to pass  Atlanta as the busiest airport worldwide in 2024. Yet another time China replaces the USA atop a worldwide ranking..