In most cultures, dragons are symbols of evil, doom and misfortune, but in Chinese culture, dragons are heros. They stand for happiness, immortality, procreation, fertility and activity.
Beijing International Airport’s newly opened Terminal 3 is a design tribute to these fiery beasts and the traditions of the Peking Dynasty.
Flying into Beijing in the dark is surely a feast for the eyes: the roof is red, a Chinese symbol for good luck, and the lights illuminate the dragon design against the night sky . Inside, carvings that imitate the famous Nine-Dragon Wall make for a nice art history lesson as you speed from your gate to to the underground train. A mini replica of the imperial gardens of the Summer Palace is in the works, and a massive copper vat used to store water for fire fighting in the Forbidden City is already smack dab in the middle of the terminal.
And just for fun, the ceiling is orange and changes from dark to light to show the most trafficked areas. I don’t think it has anything to do with Chinese superstitions, but it sure beats the drab gray walls and fluorescent light of most airport walkways. If you ever have trouble shaking a bit of bad luck, consider booking a flight to Beijing. Hey, it’s worth a shot…
jordanwhitley
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