A rendering of the new airport in Jining. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Construction of a new airport in Caohe town, Jining is being accelerated and is expected to be completed within the year, local media outlets reported.

The airport covers an area of 194 hectares and is designed with an annual throughput capacity of 20 million passengers. It will be the largest civil airport in southern Shandong province upon completion.

The terminal building spans 267 meters from east to west and 108 meters from south to north. It features many local cultural elements including Confucianism and the Grand Canal.

After being put into use, the airport will help upgrade Jining's transportation network, which combines a high-speed railway, expressways and air routes, and will promote the further opening-up of Jining.