The Aviation Division of Parsons is the general contractor for the project. Derong Liu, Parsons' project director, says the $500-million price tag is about one-third of what it would cost if you build the same airport complex in America. "One of the main reasons for the savings is our sound design of this airport," says Lui. "The new Baiyun International Airport will be the most cost efficient airport in the world."

The new Baiyun International Airport terminal complex will ultimately be built-out to 2.3 million sf. The first phase of the terminal complex of the new Baiyun International Airport will be just over one million sf in size, which is 305,000 square meters, which is 66,000 sf larger than Beijing Capital Airport and approximately 165,000 sf larger than Pudong International Airport in Shanghai.

The Baiyun International Airport is located about 13 miles from the current city airport in Guangzhou. It can be accessed a new three-lane freeway or high-speed Metro, which is currently under construction. In 2000, the American Institute of Architects recognized the design of the new Baiyun International Airport as one of the best architecture designs in the US.