Yantai Penglai International Airport Terminal 2 Named World's Most Beautiful Airport of 2025.

In July 2025, the prestigious Prix Versailles Architecture Awards recognized Yantai Penglai International Airport’s Terminal 2 in China as the world’s most beautiful airport of 2025. The terminal won praise for integrating ecological sustainability, regional identity, and artistic architecture into a striking, functional design.

      - A new terminal in Yantai, Shandong province (China), Terminal 2 (spanning 167,000 m²) was developed by Aedas, CSWADI, and the Shanghai New Era Airport Design and Research Institute. Officially opened in mid‑2024, it features an E‑shaped layout inspired by the nearby Kunyu Mountain and coastal motifs, optimizing passenger flow while minimizing environmental impact. Interior curves and materials evoke wooden ship hulls, paying homage to the Maritime Silk Road heritage. Natural light floods the space through a glazed diagrid dome above a multi‑level atrium.

      - Terminal 1 of Marseille Provence Airport in France was recognized for using 70% recycled steel and timber interiors inspired by the Old Port. Roland Garros Airport in Réunion was praised for its tropical bioclimatic design with natural ventilation and native vegetation.

      - Kansai International Airport’s Terminal 1 in Japan improved capacity by 25% with smart queue systems and natural materials. Portland Airport in the US featured a mass-timber roof using local wood, while San Francisco’s Harvey Milk Terminal cut carbon by 79% and hosts the world’s only accredited airport art museum.

Main Point :-   (i) The awards recognized not just aesthetics, but airports’ roles as operational, ecological, and cultural landmarks. As per Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of Prix Versailles, these new air terminals blend advanced flow solutions and regional architectural beauty, turning transit spaces into “works of art.” Price criteria included sustainability, passenger experience, and reflection of local heritage.

      (ii) The victory of Yantai Terminal 2 over long‑standing favourites like Singapore’s Changi Airport, which did not feature in the 2025 list, underscores China’s growing architectural influence in public infrastructure. Three of the six winning terminals will receive special World Titles (Prix Versailles, Interior, or Exterior) in December 2025.

(iii) The 2025 list marks a continuing shift in airport architecture — airports are no longer mere transit points, but expressions of identity, sustainability, and design excellence. Yantai Penglai’s Terminal 2 sets a new benchmark for how an airport can shape regional pride, passenger flow, and environmental responsibility.