Yantai airport named among world's most beautiful

Terminal 2 of Yantai Penglai International Airport became the only Chinese candidate to be named among the World's Most Beautiful Airports for 2025 by the Prix Versailles architecture awards.

The terminal commenced operations on June 28. As a gateway to the coastal city of Yantai in East China's Shandong province, its design draws inspiration from the city's mountains and seas. Spanning approximately 172,000 square meters, it doubles the size of Terminal 1, featuring three above-ground levels and one underground level.

In addition to its visual appeal, the terminal excels in smart technology. For instance, self-service kiosks enable contactless check-in and baggage drop, while millimeter-wave security scanners ensure efficient screening.

Additionally, the terminal houses a dedicated exhibition zone highlighting Yantai's wine culture, celebrating the city's reputation as the "International Vine and Wine City".

Established in 2015 by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects, the Prix Versailles awards honor the world's most outstanding contemporary architectural projects. This year, only six airports worldwide made the list.

Jerome Gouadain, secretary general of the Prix Versailles, emphasized the significance of these new landmarks. "Oriented towards operational, ecological and aesthetic excellence, these hubs convey shared values, culture or even a tribute to the past, out of respect for the legacies left behind by earlier generation," he said. 

He added that in the light of the planetary challenges facing us today, it is time for these expressive images of our contemporary heritage to be asserted as symbols of humankind's internal dialogue.