Beijing Capital International Airport's Terminal 3

A plan of the airport. Terminal 3 is a centerpiece project for the 2008 Olympics and is designed to relieve the overloaded airport's other two terminals Photograph: Foster and Partners

August 23 2007: Two workers mop the floor of the hall of the newly-built Terminal 3 Photograph: Victor Liu/EPA

September 12 2007: The huge interior will have 64 restaurants and 84 shops Photograph: Wong Maye-E/AP

December 24 2007: The new terminal uses traditional colours and state-of-the-art technology Photograph: 3CSPA/NewSport/Corbis

February 16 2008: Six international and domestic airlines will begin operating in the terminal on Friday February 29, while others will switch over from the other two terminals in March 2008 Photograph: China Photos/Getty

February 16 2008: The expansion cost a reported 27 billion yuan ($3.65billion) Photograph: China Photos/Getty

February 16 2008: It took just under four years to build the terminal, its runway and most of the related infrastructure Photograph: China Photos/Getty

February 16 2008: Visitors walk past decoration featuring nine dragons Photograph: China Photos/Getty

February 16 2008: Staff members walk in the Ground Transportation Centre Photograph: China Photos/Getty

February 16 2008: Workers clean the floor in the Ground Transportation Centre (GTC), connecting the Beijing airport light railway line Photograph: China Photos/Getty

February 16 2008: A high-speed commuter train will whisk passengers into the city Photograph: China Photos/Getty

February 16 2008: Staff members clean the roof of the Ground Transportation Centre Photograph: China Photos/Getty

February 16 2008: A staff member checks the baggage reclaim belt Photograph: China Photos/Getty

February 19 2008: The driveways leading into the airport Photograph: Goh Chai Hin/AFP

February 23 2008: The terminal is 'a safe and efficient non-competition venue for the much anticipated Beijing Olympics games,' said Dong Zhiyi, deputy general manager of the Capital Airport Holding Co ahead of the terminal's opening Photograph: AP