A month after opening, the Beijing Daxing International Airport has serviced hundreds of thousands of passengers.
As of Wednesday, the airport has transported 400,000 passengers, with an average daily passenger volume of between 14,000 and 15,000 people.
Apart from being a transportation hub, it has also become a popular attraction among locals. During its first National Day holiday week, the airport welcomed nearly 520,000 sightseers. On October 3, the number was 107,000, 23 times that of the passengers used the airport's services on that day.
CGTN Infographic by Zhang Xuecheng.
Convenient transportation
Located 46 kilometers (km) from Tian'anmen Square, 55 km from the Xiongan New Area, and 67 km from the existing Beijing Capital International Airport, it can be quite a way for passengers to get to the new airport.
Thanks to a comprehensive "five vertical and two horizontal" transportation network, which integrates the highway, intercity railway, high-speed railway and subways with the airport as the center, passengers can choose the right mode of transportation according to their travel plans and preferences.
Two of them are the Daxing Airport Express and the Beijing-Xiong'an intercity railway line, which have become the first choice for many.
Passengers at Caoqiao Station to take the Daxing Airport Express, September 26, 2019. /VCG Photo
The Daxing Airport Express train can reach up to 160 km/h, far exceeding the current maximum operating speed of traditional subway trains in China.
"It's really fast, takes only 19 minutes from Caoqiao Station to the airport!" said a passenger surnamed Zhang.
Starting from Beijing West Railway Station, passengers can take a "Fuxing" bullet train to the airport and arrive within nearly 20 minutes.
Read more: Bullet trains link city center with Daxing International Airport
Smart transportation
Passengers using self-service check-in machines at the Beijing Daxing International Airport. /VCG Photo
The airport is equipped with more than 400 self-service check-in machines and check-in luggage equipment, covering 80 percent of the airport. Passengers can easily handle check-in procedures by clicking the touch screen and swiping their ID card. They can even complete check-ins, security checks and baggage check-ins at the Caoqiao subway station.
"It's really convenient. My luggage has been checked in the subway station. I feel so relaxed and can enjoy taking photos now!" said a female passenger surnamed Wang.
Other technologies have also helped make traveling at the new airport pleasant.
For example, passengers just need to park their car at the entrance of the parking lot, and an automatic guidance vehicle will transport it intelligently in two and a half minutes.
During the National Day holiday, someone drove more than 100 kilometers to the airport just to experience the intelligent parking robot service. "Long ago, I heard from my friend that the robot could park for passengers, and I finally experienced it by myself, saving time and worry!"
More than an airport
One of the restaurants at the Beijing Daxing International Airport. /VCG Photo
Many citizens go to the airport, not for catching a plane, but for sightseeing and feasting.
With a total area of nearly 18,000 square meters, the catering services account for 2.6 percent of the total area of the terminal, density much higher than that of the Beijing Capital International Airport. Netizens have come up with a series of "Tips for shopping and food at Daxing airport" and "Catering and shopping guide," providing travelers with a rich variety of options.
The airport is also developing toward a shopping center model. The total area of retail stores is about 20,000 square meters distributed from B1 to the 4th floor of the terminal, covering a total of 300 well-known brands at home and abroad.
It is estimated that the airport will realize two to 2.5 billion yuan (about 350 million U.S. dollars) of tax-free sales in 2021 and contribute over 100 million yuan in net profits based on data from Beijing Capital International Airport
More to expect
A total of 15 airlines will be operating at the new airport by Sunday, October 27. There will be seven domestic and eight overseas airlines, with the number of daily flights reaching 280 in the coming winter-spring seasons, according to china.org.
China Duty Free Group will start operation at the new airport on the same day, selling items such as alcohol, tobacco, food, cosmetics and perfume.