The Best Transportation Options for Foreign Tourists Arriving in Beijing

Tourists planning to visit Beijing need to figure out how to get there. Beijing has two international airports and a complex ground transport network with abundant flight options. From booking tickets to entering the city after landing, it involves airport selection, price comparison, time planning and transport choices. This article covers no scenic spots or accommodation, only focuses on getting to Beijing. It includes flight options, pros and cons of direct and connecting flights, convenience of the two airports, and costs of rail transit and taxis. All information below is practical travel reference to help you prepare fully before arriving in Beijing.

Flight Options and Costs to Beijing

Direct Flights from Asia to Beijing Take About 3 to 5 Hours, with Round-Trip Tickets Costing 2,000 to 3,500 CNY in the Off-Season.
Direct Flights from Europe Take About 8 to 11 Hours, with Round-Trip Tickets Costing 4,500 to 7,000 CNY in the Off-Season.
Direct Flights from North America Take About 12 to 14 Hours, with Round-Trip Tickets Costing 5,000 to 8,000 CNY in the Off-Season.
Transfer Flights Are 20% to 30% Cheaper Than Direct Flights. Common Transfer Cities Include Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore and Doha.
Purchase Tickets 2 to 3 Months in Advance; Ticket Prices on Tuesdays and Wednesdays Are Usually Lower Than on Weekends.
Reserve At Least 4 Hours for Transfers When Buying Non-Connecting Air Tickets.

Beijing’s Two International Airports Are Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). There Are No Direct Flights from Australia to Beijing, and Transfers Are Usually Made via Hong Kong, Seoul or Guangzhou, with Round-Trip Tickets Costing About 5,000 to 7,000 CNY in the Off-Season and 8,000 to 11,000 CNY in the Peak Season. Departing from Major African Cities Such as Addis Ababa or Cairo, One Transfer Is Usually Required, with Round-Trip Tickets Costing About 5,500 to 8,500 CNY in the Off-Season. Direct Flights Save Time but Are Expensive, While Transfers Take 3 to 6 Hours Longer but Are 20% to 30% Cheaper. Avoid Booking Tickets During Christmas, Spring Festival and National Day Holidays. It Is Recommended to Compare Prices on Fare Comparison Websites and Airline Official Websites, and Actively Inquire About Student Tickets or Long-Term Travel Tickets.

Beijing Capital International Airport

Which Airport Is More Convenient for Getting to Beijing: Capital Airport or Daxing Airport

Capital Airport Is Closer to the City Center. A Taxi Ride to the East Third Ring Road Costs About 80 to 110 CNY and Takes 40 to 50 Minutes.
The Rail Transit Express of Capital Airport Costs 25 CNY and Takes 25 Minutes to Reach Dongzhimen or Sanyuanqiao.
Daxing Airport Express Costs 35 CNY and Takes 19 Minutes to Reach Caoqiao Station.
Daxing Airport Also Has the Beijing-Xiong’an Intercity Railway, Which Costs 30 CNY and Takes 20 to 35 Minutes to Reach Beijing West Railway Station.
It Is Recommended to Choose Capital Airport for Landings After 23:00 at Night, Because Rail Transit at Daxing Airport Stops Operating Around 23:00, and Only Expensive Taxis Are Available Late at Night.

The Two Airports Have Different Flight Distributions: Capital Airport Has a Longer History of International Routes, and Most Traditional Airlines Operate Here; Daxing Airport Has Undertaken New Routes and Low-Cost Airlines in Recent Years. Choose Daxing Airport Express for Early Landings with Light Luggage; Prioritize Capital Airport for Heavy Luggage or Late Landings. Pay Attention to the Airport Code When Booking Tickets. Daxing Airport Has Luggage Storage and Overnight Rest Areas, and There Are Free Shuttle Buses Between Terminals at Capital Airport.

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Four Transport Modes from Airports to Beijing After Landing

Rail Transit: The Cheapest and Free from Traffic Jams. Capital Airport Express Costs 25 CNY, Daxing Airport Express Costs 35 CNY.
Airport Buses: 20 to 30 CNY at Capital Airport, About 40 CNY at Daxing Airport, Operating Until the Last Flight Lands.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing Services: 80 to 110 CNY from Capital Airport to Sanlitun During the Day, About 150 CNY from Daxing Airport to Qianmen.
When Traveling with 2 to 3 People, the Shared Taxi Fare Is Similar to That of Airport Buses but More Convenient.

Airport Buses Require No Transfers but May Encounter Traffic Jams. Capital Airport Bus Routes Cover Xidan, Beijing Railway Station, Zhongguancun, Gongzhufen and Other Areas; Daxing Airport Bus Routes Include Beijing Railway Station Line, Tongzhou Line, Fangshan Line, etc. Taxi Queuing Takes About 5 to 20 Minutes, with a 20% Surcharge at Night. Rail Transit Is the First Choice for Single Travelers with Light Luggage; Taxis Are Better for Late Nights or Heavy Luggage; Airport Buses Are Suitable for Those Who Want to Save Money and Avoid Transfers. Taxis and Airport Buses Accept Cash, While Rail Transit Tickets Are Purchased at Vending Machines, and Some Counters Accept International Credit Cards.

Beijing Daxing Airport Express Train

High-Speed and Ordinary-Speed Train Options to Beijing from Other Chinese Cities

High-Speed Trains from Shanghai to Beijing Take About 4.5 to 5.5 Hours, with Second-Class Seats Costing 550 to 650 CNY.
High-Speed Trains from Guangzhou to Beijing Take About 7.5 to 8.5 Hours, with Second-Class Seats Costing 860 to 1,000 CNY.
High-Speed Trains from Chengdu to Beijing Take About 7 to 8 Hours, with Second-Class Seats Costing 750 to 900 CNY.
Overnight Ordinary-Speed Sleeper Trains Cost Less Than Half of High-Speed Trains and Save One Night’s Accommodation Fee.
Flying to Tianjin or Shijiazhuang First and Then Transferring to High-Speed Trains to Beijing Sometimes Costs Less Than Direct Flights to Beijing.

The Main Railway Stations in Beijing Include Beijing West Railway Station, Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station, Beijing South Railway Station and Beijing Railway Station. High-Speed Train Tickets Are in Short Supply During Summer Travel, Spring Festival Travel Rush and National Day Holidays, So It Is Recommended to Buy Them 15 Days in Advance. The Hard Sleeper Ticket of Ordinary-Speed Trains from Shanghai to Beijing Costs About 300 CNY and Takes 11 to 14 Hours. It Takes About 1 Hour from Zhengding Airport Railway Station in Shijiazhuang to Beijing West Railway Station, with Second-Class Seats Costing 110 CNY; It Takes About 30 to 40 Minutes from Tianjin to Beijing South Railway Station, with Second-Class Seats Costing 50 to 60 CNY. If the Price of Direct Flights to Beijing Is Too High, You Can Check Flights to Tianjin or Shijiazhuang. In Addition, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xi’an and Other Cities Have Frequent High-Speed Trains to Beijing, with Second-Class Seats Costing About 500 CNY, 600 CNY and 550 CNY Respectively.

Transfer Procedures and Precussions for Continuing to Beijing

Passengers with Connecting Flights, Transferring at the Same Airport and No Need to Claim Luggage Can Directly Take the International Transfer Channel.
Passengers Transferring at the Same Airport but Needing to Change Terminals Need to Take Free Shuttle Buses and Go Through Security Check Again.
Passengers Transferring from Capital Airport to Daxing Airport Need to Enter China and Travel to the Other Airport on Their Own, and Must Hold a Chinese Visa.
Transfer Time Less Than 2 Hours May Risk Missing the Flight; It Is Recommended to Reserve More Than 3 Hours.
The Transit Visa-Free Policy Does Not Apply to Passengers Who Need to Change Airports or Leave the International Transit Area.

There Are Free Shuttle Buses Between the Three Terminals of Capital Airport, Taking About 15 Minutes from T2 to T3. Daxing Airport Has Domestic and International Transfer Channels. Passengers with Connecting Flights and Checked Baggage Do Not Need to Claim Luggage and Can Follow the Signs for “International Transfer”. If You Need to Change Terminals, You Must Go Through Security Check and Sometimes Check in Again. The Distance Between Capital Airport and Daxing Airport Is About 75 Kilometers. You Need to Enter China and Travel on Your Own, Which Takes At Least 2 Hours. Such Transfers Are Strongly Not Recommended. If the Transfer Exceeds 6 Hours and You Hold a Valid Visa, You Can Briefly Leave the Airport to Enter the City, but Be Sure to Leave Enough Time for Return.

Visa, Customs and Transfer Precussions for Going to Beijing

You Need to Apply for a Visa in Advance to Go to Beijing. It Is Recommended to Submit the Application At Least One Month in Advance.
The Entry Customs Declaration Can Be Filled in on Paper Forms, Which Will Be Distributed on the Plane.
Usually, You Do Not Need a Chinese Visa If You Purchase Connecting Flights, Do Not Change Airports and Do Not Claim Luggage.
You Must Hold a Valid Visa If You Need to Change Airports or Enter China to Claim Luggage and Then Transfer to the Next Flight.
Non-Connecting Transfers Are Risky. You Will Bear the Loss If You Miss the Flight Due to the Delay of the Previous Flight.

The Passport Must Be Valid for More Than 6 Months. Visa Application Materials Usually Include Photos, Travel Itinerary, Air Tickets and Hotel Reservations. Declaration Is Required If You Carry Foreign Currency Equivalent to More Than 5,000 US Dollars. Transfers at the Same Airport in Beijing Without Entering China, Changing Terminals and Using Connecting Flights Are Generally Visa-Free. You Must Complete the Visa in Advance If You Need to Transfer Between Airports (Such as Capital to Daxing) or Enter China to Claim Luggage. It Is Recommended to Purchase Connecting Flights, Reserve At Least 3 Hours for International to International Transfers, and At Least 4 Hours for International to Domestic Transfers. Passengers of Some Nationalities Can Enjoy 24-Hour Transit Visa-Free, but It Is Only Limited to the Same Airport and Not Leaving the International Transit Area, with Strict Restrictions on Nationality and Subsequent Destinations. Please Check the Latest Regulations Before Travel.

Key Points to Clarify Before Going to Beijing

Booking Stage: Travel in the Off-Season, Book Tickets 2 to 3 Months in Advance, and Choose Direct Flights or Transfers According to Your Budget.
Confirm the Arrival Airport: Check the Airport Code (PEK or PKX) on the Air Ticket. Prioritize Capital Airport for Late-Night Arrivals.
City Transport: Take Rail Transit for the Cheapest Option When Arriving During the Day. Shared Taxis Are Cost-Effective for 2 to 3 People. Choose Airport Buses or Taxis Late at Night.
Transfer Planning: Try to Purchase Connecting Flights at the Same Airport, Reserve At Least 3 Hours for Transfer, and Avoid Inter-Airport Transfers.
Alternative Plan: If the Price of Direct Flights to Beijing Is Too High, Consider Flying to Tianjin or Shijiazhuang and Then Transferring to High-Speed Trains.

Master the Core Steps of Getting to Beijing to Arrive Smoothly. Handle the Five Items of Flight Selection, Airport Confirmation, City Transport, Transfer Procedures and Alternative Plans Well, and the Rest of the Itinerary Can Be Planned Later. China Dragon Travel Provides Basic Services for Booking or Pick-Up Assistance. Tourists Can Now Check Air Tickets and Get Ready to Depart.