China is developing a large-scale airport on reclaimed land in Jinzhou Bay to establish a significant travel hub. The Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport will span a 7.7-square-mile artificial island, featuring four runways and a 90,000-square-meter passenger terminal.
Once operational, it will be the world’s largest airport constructed on an artificial island, surpassing Hong Kong International Airport and Japan’s Kansai Airport. The facility is projected to accommodate 80 million passengers annually and manage approximately 540,000 flights.
Located north of Dalian city in Liaoning Province, the airport is set in a region recognized for its coastal scenery, distinct architecture, and popular tourist destinations such as Xinghai Square and Dalian Forest Zoo. Given its geographical proximity to Japan and South Korea, Dalian has historically served as a critical transport hub in China.
The new airport is intended to replace Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, which began operations in 1927. Despite multiple expansions, the existing airport faces space constraints, limiting further development. In 2018, it handled nearly 19 million passengers, ranking as the busiest airport in northeastern China and the 24th busiest nationwide.
First announced in 2012, the project had already commenced construction in April 2011. Initially scheduled for completion in 2018, delays have pushed the expected opening to 2035. The total cost of the development is estimated at 26.3 billion yuan.
The project is progressing in two phases. The first phase includes the construction of the main terminal and two runways, designed to accommodate 31 million passengers and 650,000 tons of cargo annually. The second phase will add two more runways, expanding the airport’s total capacity to 80 million passengers.
China continues to enhance its aviation infrastructure, with plans to build numerous new airports to support increasing air travel demand. By 2035, the country is expected to require 450 airports to meet its growing aviation needs.
China has been extremely focused in its efforts to make new and improved tech and infrastructure advancements as it continues on its path to becoming a world power challenging the United States.
