Terminal 3 in Beijing CIA will open (February, 2008)

This Friday, on 29th February, the grand and magnificent Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) is expected to open, which was started to be constructed on March, 2004.

With a length of 2,900 meters, Terminal 3 resembles a drag lying at the northeast corner of Beijing. The ball the drag plays with is the distributing center including parking area and subway terminal. Inside the terminal, the decorations feature ancient Chinese characters. The screen walls with drags, Chinese gardens, delicate pavilions, unique bridges, limpid brooks, ancient-style fountains and various plants make the terminal looks like an artistic museum.

Terminal 3 is equipped with a passenger transport system, also known as "tiny trains" which depart every three minutes. To ensure passengers' safety, platforms are installed with glass walls.

The highlight is the baggage handling system, the most advanced identification facilities in the world. Passengers can locate their baggage at any time as long as they input the identification number. Four high-speed transporting belts, connected with 292 counters, can deliver 20 thousand baggage per hour. The pre-storage services will eliminate the passengers worry about lots of baggage. They can deliver their baggage to the airport a day in advance and reach their airport easily the next day.

With the new No. 3 terminal building to be completed, three terminals and three runways will be in operation at the same time, expanding the airport's capacity to 82 million passengers annually and 1,700 flights per day, according to the airport.