Beijing Airport to City Center: Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX)

The short version

First, check which airport. Beijing has two big international airports, and they are far apart:

Then pick your ride:

This guide uses Beijing Capital International Airport’s official transport pages, checked on 30 September 2026. Taxi totals are our estimates from the official tariff, not fixed prices.

From Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)

Capital Airport Express: the best value

The Capital Airport Express (首都机场线) is a dedicated airport train, separate from the regular metro fare system.

• Fare: RMB 25 one way, with no free transfer to other metro lines.
• Stops: Terminal 3, Terminal 2, Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen and Beixinqiao.
• Frequency: about every 10 minutes.
• Hours: from about 6:00 into the evening. The last trains from the airport leave at around 23:00. Check the posted times if you land late.
• Where to board: at Terminal 3, on level 2 of the T3 parking building; at Terminal 2, on level B2 of the T2 parking building. Follow the “Airport Express” (机场线) signs.

Good to know: trains from Terminal 3 go to Terminal 2 first, then into the city. From T3 the ride to Dongzhimen takes about 30 to 35 minutes.

Paying: buy a ticket from the machines, or use a transit QR code in Alipay. In Beijing you can also tap a foreign Visa or Mastercard at many metro gates. If one method fails, the ticket machines are the fallback. See Alipay for foreigners.

Airport buses

Airport buses leave from outside Terminal 3, level 1, gate 7, and Terminal 2, level 1, gate 11.

• Fares: about RMB 20 to 35, depending on the route.
• Routes run to Beijing West, Beijing South, Beijing Chaoyang and Beijing Qinghe railway stations, Gongzhufen, Tongzhou and Daxing Airport, among others.
• The route to Beijing West Railway Station runs 24 hours.

Buses suit you if your hotel is near a stop, or if you are heading to a railway station with luggage.

Taxi

Use only the official taxi rank:

• Terminal 3: taxi waiting area on level B1.
• Terminal 2: outside gates 5 to 9 on level 1.

Beijing taxis use the meter. According to the airport:

• RMB 13 for the first 3 km, then RMB 2.3 per km;
• 50% extra per km beyond 15 km, and 20% extra per km from 23:00 to 5:00;
• RMB 1 fuel surcharge per trip; tolls are paid by the passenger.

To Dongcheng or Wangfujing, that usually works out at roughly RMB 100 to 150 and 40 to 70 minutes, longer in rush hour. Ask for a receipt (发票) and note the car number.

Ignore anyone offering a ride inside the terminal. Unlicensed drivers often charge several times the meter price.

DiDi

DiDi works at both terminals. Follow the signs for ride-hailing (网约车) pickup, which is separate from the taxi rank. Prices are similar to a taxi. The English version of DiDi translates your chat with the driver. See How to get a taxi in China.

From Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX)

Daxing is Beijing’s newer airport, far to the south. It is modern and easy to navigate, but the city is a long way away.

Daxing Airport Express

The Daxing Airport Express (大兴机场线) is a fast, driverless airport train.

• Route: Daxing Airport to Caoqiao (草桥), on the southern 3rd Ring Road. A northern extension to Lize Business District has been under construction.
• Journey time: about 20 minutes.
• Fare: RMB 35 in the ordinary cabin, RMB 50 in business class.
• Change at Caoqiao for Line 10 and Line 19, then continue to your hotel.

To reach Wangfujing or the Forbidden City area, allow 1.25 to 1.5 hours in total from landing to your hotel door.

Intercity train

The Beijing–Xiong’an intercity railway stops at Daxing Airport. Trains run to Beijing West and are booked like other China Railway tickets, with your passport. It can be convenient if your hotel is near Beijing West. See how to book China train tickets.

Taxi and DiDi

A taxi to the center costs roughly RMB 180 to 250 and takes 60 to 90 minutes. Use the official taxi rank or the ride-hailing pickup area. For a family with luggage, a taxi or pre-booked transfer is often simpler than the train plus metro.

Moving between Capital and Daxing airports

If you land at one airport and fly out of the other, allow at least 4 to 5 hours between flights.

• Airport bus: a direct bus runs between the two airports. The ride takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Taxi or DiDi: also about 1.5 hours, and the most expensive option.

Using 240-hour visa-free transit? Both airports are approved entry ports. Read the 240-hour transit rules before you book separate tickets.

Which option should you choose?

Before you land

1. Complete your arrival card before the flight. See China arrival card and what happens at immigration.
2. Get mobile data working so you can open maps and DiDi on arrival. See China eSIM vs SIM card.
3. Save your hotel address in Chinese. Show it to the driver.
4. Keep some cash for the first hours, in case your payment app needs a moment to verify.

Want someone waiting when you land?

After a long flight, a driver holding your name at arrivals is the easiest start. Our airport transfer service tracks your flight and meets you at PEK or PKX. For what to do next, see our Beijing guide and how to book Forbidden City tickets.