Spectacular new terminal unveiled in Beijing

Beijing Airport has officially opened its new $3.6 billion (£1.8 billion) terminal.

The terminal was developed to cope with the extra passengers expected to descend on Beijing for the Olympic Games in August.

Among its features are a two-mile concourse that can be traversed via a shuttle train and a design that makes the building look like a dragon from the outside.

With the new terminal, the airport is now capable of serving 76 million flyers a year, compared with the previous figure of 53 million.

Six airlines - Sichuan Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, British Airways and El Al Israel Airlines - will initially be able to use the terminal, with more to be added at the end of March.

According to Reuters, some 200 million Chinese travellers are expected to take a flight this year, compared with the 185 million seen in 2007.

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