I got a big surprise on Monday when I thought I was going to the usual buidling - and after worrying that the taxi was taking a detour. Anyway, for 25 RMB more - the new terminal is worth it.  Even got my luggage no problem on the way back !

yeah a few retail outlets are available but the prices are not cheap, definitely a step-up from the old terminal.

I believe the old terminal will still be used, but for cargo flights only. Passengers will all be redirected to the new one.

And really, it cost an extra 25 yuan to get there? It didn't seem like it was that far.

Is there a more direct way to get to the new terminal, or do you have to go through the old terminal to get there?

Did anyone by any chance see if they've changed the sculpture there?

Sculpture removed because of color

I was thinking the same thing. I tried to go onto google earth to look it up and see just how far it was, but they didn't have current images.

You don't have to go through the old terminal to access the new terminal. The new terminal can be accessed from the highway (Weiguo Dao).

You are all right in that the new terminal is just on the other side of the runway and it doesn't seem that far away but because one has to travel through Weiguo Dao to get to the new terminal, that is what makes the cost a bit higher.

Note that it costs 25-30 rmb from the old to the new terminal, if you came directly from the city along Weiguo Dao, then it would not cost an extra 25 rmb on top of what you would pay to get to the old terminal, best guess maybe an extra 10 rmb on top of what you'd pay to get to the old terminal.

I heard that the new airport would reach its full capacity by 2010. And another "new new" terminal will be under construction when the 2008 Olympics is over.

A new subway line will connect downtown and the airport but I have no idea when it's gonna be done.. Hopefully soon we'll have some more options than taxis..

I don't know. the new airport is nice and everything, but the shops before the gates sell more or less the same stuff that you were finding at the old one. After the security ispection (and a new rule that if you have your laptop bag, you cannot have any other hand luggage...) there is something more, but the shop are just a chinese noodle chain -the same in the t3 of beijing- few obscure fashion brand and a overpriced café.

but it's nice, and new, and the plane left on time (just the day I was late!)

I always find the stuff on sale at stations and airports in China to be incredibly limited. You can't even buy the China Daily! I've also looked in vain for a bar of chocolate at the railway station.