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

The quickest way from Beijing airport to the city is the airport express train. From Capital Airport (PEK), the Capital Airport Express reaches Dongzhimen in about 20–30 minutes for CNY 25 (about US$4). From Daxing Airport (PKX), the Daxing Airport Express runs to Caoqiao in 19 minutes for CNY 35 (about US$5). A taxi takes roughly 45 to 75 minutes.

Which Beijing airport are you flying into?

Beijing has two international airports, and they sit on opposite sides of the city. Capital International Airport (PEK) is the older one, about 25–30 km northeast of the center, with flights from Terminals 2 and 3. Daxing International Airport (PKX) is about 45–50 km south of the center. Check the three-letter code on your ticket before you plan the ride, because the routes into town are completely different.

Both airports have “Beijing Service” counters at the international arrival exits. Staff there sell local SIM cards, help you set up payment apps and give route directions. The BEIJING PASS, a transport card for foreign visitors, is sold in the international arrival areas of both airports. Beijing’s city government also suggests carrying a little cash in yuan for the trip from the airport to your hotel.

Capital Airport (PEK) to the city

Capital Airport Express

The Capital Airport Express is a dedicated rail line with five stations: Beixinqiao, Dongzhimen, Sanyuanqiao, Terminal 3 and Terminal 2. It used to end at Dongzhimen; at the end of 2021 it was extended one stop west to Beixinqiao, where you can change to Line 5. At Dongzhimen you can change to Lines 2 and 13, and at Sanyuanqiao to Lines 10 and 12.

• Where to board: at T3, on level 2 of the parking building; at T2, on level B2 of the parking building. Follow the train signs from arrivals.
• Fare: a flat CNY 25 (about US$4) one way, as of November 2026. Subway day passes are not valid on this line.
• Hours toward the city: first and last trains leave T3 at 6:22 and 22:52, and T2 at 6:36 and 23:10.
• Frequency and time: roughly every 10 minutes; about 20 minutes from T3 to Dongzhimen and about 30 minutes from T2.

If you land at T2 and the next train is from T3, or the other way round, a free shuttle bus links the two terminals roughly every 10–15 minutes.

Airport buses

Airport buses leave from T3 (level 1, gate 1) and T2 (level 1, gate 11). City routes run to Beijing West railway station via Dongzhimen, Chaoyangmen, Beijing Station, Chongwenmen, Qianmen and Xuanwumen, and other routes go to Beijing South, Beijing Fengtai, Beijing Chaoyang, Qinghe, Tongzhou and even Badaling Great Wall. City fares are CNY 15–35 (about US$2–5); Dongzhimen is CNY 25 and Qianmen CNY 30. A bus is useful if your hotel sits near one of those stops and you have large bags, since there are no subway changes. The Beijing West route runs 24 hours, and a night route goes to Gongzhufen, so a bus is still an option after the last express train.

Taxi and ride-hailing

The taxi stand at T2 is on level 1, outside gates 5–9 in the middle lane; at T3 it is in the B1 taxi waiting area. Ride-hailing pick-ups are in the parking buildings: level 1 southeast at T2, and B2 zone H at T3. A metered taxi to Wangfujing or Dongcheng costs roughly CNY 100–130 (about US$15–20) plus tolls, and takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Treat these as estimates, since slow traffic adds waiting time to the meter and a night surcharge applies from 11pm to 5am.

Daxing Airport (PKX) to the city

Daxing Airport Express

The Daxing Airport Express currently has three stations: Daxing Airport (in the terminal, level B1), Daxing Xincheng and Caoqiao. A northern extension toward Lize Business District is still under construction, so as of November 2026 the line ends at Caoqiao. At Caoqiao you change to subway Line 10 or Line 19 for the rest of the trip.

• Time: 19 minutes from the airport to Caoqiao.
• Fare: CNY 35 (about US$5) in a standard car from the airport to Caoqiao, or a flat CNY 50 (about US$7) in the business car, which has its own gates.
• Hours toward the city: 6:00 to 23:00 (last train 23:30 on Sundays). Ticket sales stop five minutes before the last train.
• Airline offers: until 31 December 2026, some China Eastern, China Southern and Air China passengers ride free, and Xiamen Airlines passengers pay a reduced CNY 28 standard or CNY 40 business.

Train from Daxing Airport to Beijing West

Daxing Airport also has a railway station on the Beijing–Xiong’an intercity line. Trains to Beijing West take 28 minutes, and second class costs CNY 18–30 (about US$3–4). You book them on 12306 with your passport, like any Chinese train. On 12306, pick the station named Daxing Airport (大兴机场), not the separate station called Daxing (大兴). On our sample date, 12 November 2026, trains from the airport to Beijing West ran from 06:41 to 21:34, so after a late landing take the express, a bus or a taxi instead. This works well if your hotel is in the west of the city, or if you are catching a train from Beijing West the same day.

Buses and taxis

Airport buses leave from level 1, by Gate 20, on nine city routes as of November 2026. For a late landing, the route to Beijing railway station runs through the night, and two night routes go to Zhongguancun and to the Agricultural Exhibition Center; the Zhongguancun night bus runs until 3am, leaving when full or at least every 20 to 30 minutes. A taxi to Wangfujing or Guomao costs roughly CNY 170–220 (about US$25–33) including tolls and takes about 60–75 minutes in normal traffic.

Paying for the ride

You do not need a Chinese app to ride the airport trains. Since 13 September 2024, overseas Visa and Mastercard cards work at Beijing’s fare gates, and since 15 June 2025 JCB and American Express do too. All five card networks, including UnionPay, are accepted at every gate on both airport express lines. Tap the same card or phone in and out; a physical card and a phone cannot be mixed on one trip. Alipay, with a linked foreign card, is the other easy option.

Going back to the airport

Toward Capital Airport, the first and last trains leave Beixinqiao at 5:56 and 22:26, Dongzhimen at 6:00 and 22:30, and Sanyuanqiao at 6:04 and 22:34. Toward Daxing, trains leave Caoqiao from 5:30 to 22:30; the operator advises entering the station ten minutes before the last train. At Caoqiao there is a Daxing Airport city terminal where check-in is available for some flights. At Dongzhimen, Air China passengers on domestic flights from T3 can check in and drop bags; this does not cover international flights.

Transferring between Capital and Daxing

The two airports are about 80 km apart by road. You have three ways across:

• Taxi: about 70–100 minutes, roughly CNY 230–300 (about US$34–45) plus tolls.
• Airport bus: only three departures each way, via Universal Studios. From PEK T3 at 7:00, 12:00 and 15:00; from PKX at 14:00, 16:00 and 18:30. The fare is CNY 65 (about US$10); allow about 1.5–2 hours.
• Rail: Capital Airport Express to Sanyuanqiao, Line 10 to Caoqiao, then the Daxing Airport Express. Allow about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.

If your two flights use different airports, leave at least four to five hours between them.

Express train or taxi?

For a couple with carry-on bags arriving by day, the airport express plus one subway change is quick and simple. With big suitcases, grandparents in the group or a late landing, a taxi or a pre-arranged car is easier, since every subway change means wheeling your bags through another station. If you are connecting through Beijing, our Beijing layover tour includes airport pick-up and drop-off at Capital or Daxing, and our guide to visa-free entry and transit in Beijing explains the rules at immigration.

Once you know which airport you’re using, choose a hotel area with an easy link: our where to stay in Beijing guide covers the neighborhoods. For riding the subway in town, see getting around Beijing, and for phones and payment apps, read Beijing travel essentials. When you’ve settled in, pick your first days from our list of things to do in Beijing.

Times and fares come from the Capital Airport transport page and the Beijing subway operator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way from Beijing Capital Airport to the city?

The Capital Airport Express. It runs roughly every 10 minutes from Terminals 3 and 2 to Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen and Beixinqiao, taking about 20–30 minutes to Dongzhimen. The fare is a flat CNY 25 (about US$4) as of November 2026.

Does the Daxing Airport Express stop at Lize Business District?

Not yet. As of November 2026 the line runs Daxing Airport – Daxing Xincheng – Caoqiao. The northern extension toward Lize is still under construction. At Caoqiao you change to subway Line 10 or Line 19.

How much is a taxi from Beijing airport to the city center?

Roughly CNY 100–130 (about US$15–20) plus tolls from Capital Airport to Wangfujing, and roughly CNY 170–220 (about US$25–33) including tolls from Daxing. These are estimates; the fare depends on traffic and time of day, and a night surcharge applies from 11pm to 5am.

Can I pay for the airport train with my foreign credit or debit card?

Contactless cards work at the gates on both airport express lines: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and UnionPay, plus phones and watches with those cards linked. Tap the same card or device when you enter and when you leave.

Which Beijing airport is closer to the city center?

Capital Airport (PEK) is closer, about 25–30 km northeast of the center. Daxing Airport (PKX) is about 45–50 km south. Daxing's express train is fast, but you need a subway change at Caoqiao to reach most central hotels.

How long should I allow to transfer between Capital and Daxing airports?

Leave at least four to five hours between flights at different airports. The taxi ride is about 70–100 minutes, rail with two changes takes about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, and the direct airport bus has only three departures each way.

Do you offer airport pick-up in Beijing?

Our Beijing layover tour includes airport pick-up and drop-off at Capital or Daxing, and our Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai tour includes station and airport transfers in each city. Ask us when you send your flight details.

Facts checked: 5 November 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and entry rules can change; we re-check before every booking.