Recognized as one of the World’s Most Beautiful Airports by the prestigious Prix Versailles architecture awards, Terminal 2 at Yantai Penglai International Airport has been celebrated not just for efficiency but for its striking coastal-inspired design and architectural elegance. Designed by Aedas in collaboration with CSWADI and the Shanghai New Era Airport Design and Research Institute, the terminal was singled out for how it integrates spatial clarity, environmental strategy, and long-term adaptability at a metropolitan scale.
The Prix Versailles jury highlighted the terminal’s sweeping, undulating roofline, abundant natural light, and thoughtful choreography of circulation and structure, which together enhance passenger experience while honoring the region’s landscape and cultural context.
The airport’s design unfolds as a thoughtful E-shaped layout, with the main building aligned parallel to the runway and planned in phases to allow seamless future expansion. The architect guides the project in a deep study of the site, creating designs sensitive to the natural terrain.
“The thoughtful incorporation of natural light, both in the departures hall and the airside atrium, gives these spaces a distinctive character and a real sense of place. The terminal’s ambiance creates a serene environment and helps passengers navigate the space with ease. Drawing our inspiration from Yantai’s mountains and seascape, the dynamic form of the building is a tribute to the region’s unique and iconic features,” mentions Aedas Executive Director Albert Tong.
The terminal introduces railway connectivity to the airport for the very first time, with seamless transit between air and rail, enhancing accessibility to and from the airport. The airport also introduces various facilities, including 9 international/domestic swing gates, allowing the airport to deal with the international and domestic traffic peaks. From the planning stage to the terminal facilities, the design has been thoughtfully and flexibly incorporated within the entire architecture.
From the early stages of planning, the terminal’s layout was carefully shaped by the site’s natural contours, with landside and airside functions arranged across split levels to work with the terrain. This approach reduced unnecessary excavation needs and softened the project’s footprint. As the scale and structural demands shift across the building, reinforced concrete roofs define the airside concourses, ensuring strength and efficiency. The result is a thoughtfully balanced design that aligns cost, performance, and long-term functionality through context-responsive architecture.
Inside the terminal, the interiors unfold with a calm, flowing rhythm inspired by the movement of ocean waves, where sculptural ceilings and generous skylights define the spaces. The skylight openings are carefully aligned with the spaces below, using daylight as a quiet guide through the passenger journey. Beyond security, a striking glazed diagrid dome crowns the airside retail atrium, introducing a moment of visual drama and pause. Sunlight pours deep into the terminal, linking concourse levels and creating an atmosphere that feels open, lively, and gently connected to Yantai’s coastal character.
Located on the lowest level, the baggage claim area is inspired by the curved timber hulls of traditional Chinese junks, subtly referencing the region’s deep maritime heritage and the historic Maritime Silk Road. Striking design details and skylight composition bring light and movement, resulting in a welcoming arrival experience that blends cultural memory with clarity and comfort.
Yantai Penglai International Airport Terminal 2 Project Details
Project name: Yantai Penglai International Airport Terminal 2
Location: Yantai, Shandong, China
Architect: Aedas
Year: 2024
Photography: 404NFS
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