BEIJING’S AIRPORTS – WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHERE TO STAY
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Most international tourists arrive by plane to Beijing so you will most likely visit one or both of the city’s airports. Current information for China can be hard to find so I decided to put together a quick guide of all I learned during my trip to Beijing.
I flew into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and departed from Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) so did experience both. As I just passed through PEK on arrival but stayed overnight near PKX I do have more info on the latter. But hopefully both will be helpful so you have an idea what to expect at a Chinese airport!
Planning a trip to Beijing? Read my post with recommendations for best areas (and hotels) for a first visit to Beijing!
What to know about Beijing’s Airports
The main thing to be aware of is that Beijing has two major international airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX).
Capital International Airport is located about 25 km northeast of the city center, whereas Daxing Airport is about 46 km straight south. Both are well connected by public transit so getting from/to the airport is quite easy (and not too expensive).
While PEK is a bit more convenient, PKX is a bit newer/nicer – but in the end it doesn’t really matter. I would book whichever is more convenient/has the best connections. Just make sure you know which one you will arrive/depart from so you don’t head to the wrong one!
Be especially careful if Beijing is only a stop-over, especially if you booked your tickets separately. It would be rather a pain to transfer between the two airports as the distance is significant. Best avoid this or at least allow plenty of time if you do need to change between PKX and PEK!
All about Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Arriving at PEK
My flight to Beijing arrived at PEK very early in the morning. Even though the airport isn’t that new (it opened in 1958 with new terminals in 1980 and 1999) it was clean and modern.
There were plenty of bilingual signs to show the way to immigration. I had filled out the China Digital Arrival Card ahead of time. I recommend you do the same as it is easier than doing it after a long flight with sketchy online access. However, if you forgot no need to panic as there were reminders and places to go and do it after arrival.
Immigration itself was fairly straight-forward. Organized line, just a short wait, and a painless process (included photo and fingerprints but no questions). I did have all my reservations etc. printed out in case of questions but didn’t need them but do recommend to have them ready. Obviously, this process will depend on your passport country, what kind of visa (or visafree entry) you use, and the individual officer.
Logistics at PEK
After picking up my luggage I made my way out through customs. The actual arrival terminal was smaller than I had expected. There was an international traveler center but it was smaller than I thought it would be based on all the signs posted before.
It included two ATMs. I managed to withdraw some Chinese currency with my international ATM card and recommend you get at least a little cash there as well. Even though Alipay/WeChat (and at times international credit cards) are big in China, it is best to have at least some emergency cash.
Getting to and from PEK to Beijing
Airport Express Train
The easiest and most affordable way to get from PEK to Beijing’s city center is the Airport Express Train. It leaves from Terminals 3 and 2 and runs every 10 minutes from around 6:30 am to almost 11 pm. The only stops are Sanyuan Bridge, Dongzhimen, and Beixinqiao and a single ride is RMB 25.
I originally planned to purchase a Beijing travel card at the airport but couldn’t find a manned counter to do it at. However, there were bilingual machines selling single tickets right at the station (lucky that I had already gotten local cash from the ATM). The process was quite easy and straightforward. (Alternatively, you can also swipe your international credit card or use Alipay but I did not try this).
I was able to buy and charge a Travel card at the counter when I changed lines at Dongzhimen Station though (for this you will need a passport).
Other Transport Options
There are also Airport Shuttle Buses you can use. This is probably the better option if your destination is not the city center (say if you need to go to Daxing Airport or one of the Railway Stations) but it seems a bit more complicated. For a first visit to downtown Beijing I would stick with the train.
Of course you can also take a taxi to/from the airport. This may be a good idea if you have a lot of luggage. However, it probably won’t save you much time as traffic in Beijing can be busy and unpredictable.
All about Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Getting to Daxing Airport
Airport Express Subway Train
You can easily get to or from Beijing Daxing Airport from the city center by public transit. However, it will take some time and is slightly more expensive than other train rides in town (but still inexpensive).
The best option is to take the dedicated Daxing Airport Express line which starts at Caoqiao. How to get to or from Caoqiao will of course depend on where you are coming from. You can use the Beijing Rail Transit Map (see above and at all stations) or even better let AMap figure out the best connection for you.
Once at Caoqiao just follow the signs to the Daxing Airport Express lines. To my surprise there was a passport/ID control for getting to the train platform (in addition to the regular security check of luggage and person that is common at all metro stations). There was a bit of a line for this but it moved quickly and there were no issues.
You can buy separate tickets for this train but if you are leaving Beijing you likely already have a way to pay for subway tickets. I prefer the Yikatong travel card but credit cards or Alipay/WeChat should work just as well. I just scanned my travel card (I had loaded enough money on beforehand) as at any other station. Check out my general post on Beijing’s public transit if you want more general info on how metro trains work there.
Once at the train platform I had to wait a little bit (I think I just missed a train). However, there were some seats so it wasn’t bad at all.
The trains themselves are modern, clean, and similar to airport trains anywhere.
The seats were quite comfortable and there were luggage racks at the doors. However, there was quite a bit of leg room so you can easily take smaller luggage to your seat with you.
This subway train runs from 6 am to 11 pm every 10-15 minutes. The ride takes just 22 minutes (but your overall travel time will likely be longer as you first have to get to Caoqiao Station). Cost for the subway ticket is 35 RMB, significantly more than other rides in Beijing (usually 6 RMB or less) but still quite affordable.
Other Transit Options
Of course you do have other transit options. These include:
The Beijing-Xiong’an Intercity Train takes you between PKX and Beijing West Railway Station in 29 minutes for just 30 RMB. It is probably best if your final destination is nearby (or of course if you want to get to the train station).
The Shuttle Bus (various lines) is probably your best option if you want to go to one of Beijing’s other railway stations, to PEK airport, or other destinations outside the city center. Prices are similar to the train.
You can of course also take either a transfer service, taxi or Didi from/to the airport. This is the most convenient option (especially if you have more luggage) though not necessarily the fastest due to traffic. It will obviously also be the most expensive.
Make sure to either pre-book your transfer, use Didi, or the official taxi rank. Be aware that drivers may not speak English (so have your direction written in Mandarin or use a translation app) and probably won’t accept international credit cards.
Staying overnight near Daxing International Airport
Somewhat surprisingly for a travel blogger I am a nervous traveller. I do get quite stressed about getting to the airport on time so when I saw that airport hotels for PKX were quite inexpensive I decided to spend my last night there.
Review of Beijing CSN Pearl Hotel at DAX
I ended up booking one night at CSN Pearl Hotel which is actually owned by China Southern Airlines. My main reason for choosing this specific hotel was that it offers a regular shuttle bus service to/from the airport every half hour. No need to pre-book or call (or use WeChat) to arrange for a pick-up – a huge plus in my opinion.
My room at Beijing CSN Pearl Hotel
Given the very reasonable price, the room was actually nicer than expected. It was quite big, modern, and had all the things you would expect from a decent airport hotel. There was a big desk as well as a hot water cooker. I ended up booking a twin bed room as it was cheaper but while not my preference it didn’t really matter either.
The bathroom had a nice shower and was modern and serviceable. Really nothing at all to complain about.
Amenities at CSN Pearl Hotel
This is a fairly big hotel and a lot of airline crew stays there. The lobby is massive and service at reception was efficient and friendly.
Originally, I had planned to drop off my luggage and head back to the airport to look around and grab some dinner. However, when I passed through the airport I didn’t think the landside area looked that exciting and the security for getting in and out of the airport was quite tight so I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle and to just eat something at the hotel.
When I checked in I saw a small café/snack place but by the time I came back down after settling in it was closed. There was a restaurant but it looked very empty (and maybe closed but I did not ask). I was more looking for a small snack anyway so looked around and found some very tech-forward vending machines.
Apparently, you pay via face recognition at these vending machines! Unfortunately, the technology defeated me. I even asked people nearby for help (I guess I was really hungry or thirsty) but it was harder than expected. I think you might need a Chinese phone number to make them work? (Or maybe I just didn’t figure out how).
However, the people helping me pointed out that there was a regular convenience store right next door that I had missed seeing earlier! Of course that was a much better option so I abandoned my futile Alipay attempts and ran to the store where I got all I needed.
The Shuttle – Getting from PKX to CSN Pearl Hotel and back
The shuttle was the biggest advantage of CSN Pearl and it did work perfectly. It goes every half hour and there is no need to book or arrange anything. Just show up at the pickup point and get on.
This is of course very easy at the hotel (right in front where you got off) on the return trip but slightly more difficult on the way from airport to hotel. The hotel sent pretty specific instructions but just in case you are a nervous traveller like me here is how to do it with pictures:
Once you arrive at the airport (either by plane or subway) follow the signs for Coach to Gate 15.
Here it is slightly unexpected as the exit to the parking lot is gated. I think it is either because paid shuttle buses leave from here (they sell tickets nearby) and you need a ticket or just for security. Either way I showed the person waiting there my hotel confirmation and she told me to still wait.
There are seats there if you like me arrive when the bus isn’t there. Once the bus came, the employee waved me through the door without issue.
The bus was clearly marked with luggage compartment underneath. It left right on time and took just a couple of minutes to the hotel.
On the way back you board at the hotel (same place as drop-off) and get off again at the parking spots. However, you can’t just waltz into the airport as in most places. Instead, I followed the other passengers a bit to an open door where passports/ID were needed to enter the building.
So should you stay at CSN Pearl Hotel for Daxing Airport?
IF you want to stay overnight at an airport hotel for PKX I absolutely recommend CSN Pearl Hotel. Hotel and room were much nicer than I expected given the reasonable cost. There was a convenience store right next door and the shuttle was perfect for me.
However, I would really only recommend staying at the airport for very early or late flights. It is just very far from the city and there is not much to do. Beijing’s public transit is quite reliable so if your plane does not leave until noon or later (like mine) it might be better to stay the last night in town. That way you can still explore the city or enjoy local food on the last evening, especially if you are just in Beijing for a shorter time.
What to expect at Daxing Airport
Once I managed to enter the airport the landside part was clean and modern but not too exciting. Check-in was fairly easy – they did let me check in more than 3 hours prior but of course that might not always be the case.
The immigration/customs/security checks were also fairly standard though it was the most thorough body search I ever had. There also seemed to be an extra step (customs separate from immigration) but in total it still didn’t take very long.
Once past security, the terminal was quite impressive. There were plenty of seats (I used the lounge below but the regular seating was perfectly comfortable). One of the biggest pluses: Just like in Korea prices for food/drinks/souvenirs were not hiked up. A soda at one of the airport stores had the exact same price as anywhere else. I really appreciated that as I absolutely hate paying USD 10 for a small soda and a tiny bag of chips.
The morning of my flight I realized that I had made a silly mistake. When I ordered my esim (absolutely essential for a China trip, not only to have data but also to access Western websites) I had miscounted the days and my coverage ended at 6 am on that day!
Not ideal as having internet access is especially important when actively traveling, to check connections, rebook, or find your lounge. Luckily, I managed to get the airport WIFI to work. This is though trickier in China than most other countries. Instead of just clicking “Log me in” I had to fill in a form and upload a photo of my passport. Once online, the WIFI worked just fine but of course I had no access to Google and Co. Next time I will for sure get an extra day of data!
BCS Premier Lounge at Daxing Airport
So, another thing slightly surprising for someone who travels as much as me is that I had never used a (paid) airport lounge. I know of them of course but as I fly usually in the cheapest class (and not always the same airline) I never manage to collect a lot of miles and my credit cards aren’t a help either. While I did know that you can pay extra to use some of the lounges that always seemed a bit of a waste of money to me.
However, I did book a bunch of things on Trip.com (recommended for China as the portal specializes in it) and managed to move up in their loyalty tiers. And one of the perks was a free airport lounge access!
BCS Premier Lounge at PKX Airport
So I went ahead and booked the BCS Premier Lounge at PKX and I absolutely loved it! I had no idea how nice those lounges are. There was a buffet with a complete lunch.
There were free drinks, including alcoholic ones (yes, I had a glass of Bailey’s at 11:30 am in the morning).
And the chairs were just incredibly comfortable. Coming right after my stay at the five-star China World Summit Wing I felt like a millionaire (or at least a top class executive)!
I highly recommend the experience as long as you will have enough time at the airport to make it worth the money.
How to find the Premier Lounge
The only negative was finding the lounge as I really struggled with that. The names on the airport map were a bit confusing and it turns out that I started looking at the exact opposite side of the terminal. There was a lounge there as well but it turned out to be the wrong one.
After that I kept asking various people for directions. They all pointed one way and said – or at least I thought they said – Gate 19. I was very confused as the gate numbers I passed got higher and higher. 40s, 50s, 60s… and I just didn’t understand how I would ever get to Gate 19 that way. It wasn’t until I actually found the lounge (at the very end of the terminal) that I realized they had all directed me to Gate 90, not 19! A real brain-freeze on my side.
But you can avoid all the confusion. Don’t look for the lounge on the map, instead head towards Gate 90 and/or the China Garden and you will be right there!
Conclusion
Both of Beijing’s international airports are modern, clean, and easy to navigate. The heightened security with more in-depth checks for entering wasn’t a problem but a bit unexpected. On the other hand public transit works very well and is affordable.
Staying at an airport hotel for Daxing is a good choice for a very early or late flight and worked perfectly. However, there really isn’t much to do in the area so Daxing airport hotels are not a good choice for a longer stay.
A big advantage of Chinese (and Korean) airports is that food and necessities are not over-priced like almost anywhere else. So getting a snack or a last-minute souvenir will not break the bank. Still, I absolutely loved the airport lounge and highly recommend checking it out if you have a longer time at the airport!
