Beijing Airport to City Centre: Which Transport to Take

Beijing has two international airports — Capital (PEK) in the northeast and Daxing (PKX) in the south — and the right transport depends on which one you land at. For most arrivals, the airport express train is the fastest and cheapest option.

From Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)

PEK handles the majority of long-haul flights from North America, Europe and Australia. It sits roughly 30 km from the city centre.

Airport Express Train — best for most travellers

The Capital Airport Express runs from T2 and T3 to Sanyuanqiao (Lines 10 and 14) and Dongzhimen (Lines 2 and 13), with the line extended further to Beixinqiao. The fare is a flat ¥25, trains run every 8–10 minutes, and the service operates from approximately 6:20 AM to 11:10 PM. Journey time from T3 to Dongzhimen is 21–25 minutes. From Dongzhimen, the rest of central Beijing is a further 15–25 minutes by metro.

Pay by scanning a QR code via Alipay or WeChat Pay at the turnstile — both apps accept linked foreign Visa or Mastercard. Ticket machines with English interfaces also exist at every station, though they can be unreliable with foreign cards. If you prefer a physical card, a Yikatong transit card (¥20 refundable deposit) is available at the airport service desk and works across the whole subway network.

Note: the Airport Express fare is separate from the regular subway system — you pay ¥25 on top of any onward metro journey.

Taxi

A metered taxi to central Beijing costs ¥110–¥130 plus a ¥10 expressway toll. Journey time is 30–60 minutes in normal traffic, up to 90 minutes during rush hour (7–9 AM and 5–7 PM). Use the official taxi queue outside T3 Arrivals — it is clearly signed. Avoid anyone approaching you inside the terminal.

DiDi

DiDi typically runs ¥120–¥180 to central Beijing, with surge pricing at peak times. You need the app installed and Alipay or WeChat Pay linked before you land. Journey times mirror the taxi.

Shuttle Bus

Five routes operate from PEK, with fares between ¥20 and ¥55. Route 1, for example, runs to Fangzhuang via Guomao (Dabeiyao) between 7:00 AM and 1:00 AM. Buses are slow — expect 60–110 minutes — and handling luggage on board is awkward, but they serve specific districts the metro doesn't reach directly.

From Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX)

PKX is around 55 km from the city centre, much further than PEK. The express train is even more important here.

Daxing Airport Express (Metro Line 19)

The Daxing Airport Express reaches Caoqiao Station in around 19 minutes at a standard fare of ¥35 (business class ¥50). It runs from approximately 6:00 AM to 23:00 (23:30 on Sundays). At Caoqiao you can connect to Line 10 for the rest of the city. The line also stops at Beijing West Railway Station, useful if your hotel is in that part of the city or you are continuing by high-speed train.

You can book onward trains or domestic flights through Trip.com — compare all the main booking sites before you commit.

Taxi from PKX

Expect to pay ¥220–¥280 and allow 60–80 minutes in normal traffic. DiDi costs a similar amount. Both are best reserved for late-night arrivals or groups with heavy luggage.

Which airport am I flying into?

Check your ticket: PEK is the older airport in the northeast; PKX is the newer Daxing airport to the south. Most long-haul carriers use PEK. Airlines such as China Southern and a number of low-cost carriers operate from PKX. If you are unsure, the three-letter code on your boarding pass confirms it.

Last checked: 2026-10-03