Beijing Airport Transfer Guide — Airport Express, Taxi & DiDi from PEK & PKX 2026

First things first

Beijing has two airports — know which one you're landing at

Just booked a flight to Beijing and spotted an unfamiliar airport code? Here's the thing a lot of first-time visitors miss: Beijing has two major airports, and they could hardly be more different — in where they sit, how far they are from the centre, and how you get into town. Your first job is to check whether your ticket lands at PEK or PKX, then read the section that applies to you, because the transfer plan for each is completely different.

PEK

Beijing Capital International Airport
北京首都国际机场

The long-established main hub, handling both international and domestic flights, with Terminals 1, 2 and 3. It sits in the northeast of the city, roughly 25–30 km from the centre. Some flights from Thailand land here — always check your ticket.

IATA code: PEK

Distance to centre: ~25–30 km

Flights: International and domestic

Terminals: T1 · T2 · T3

PKX

Beijing Daxing International Airport
北京大兴国际机场

The newer, dramatic starfish-shaped airport designed by Zaha Hadid, which opened in September 2019. It sits far to the south, around 46 km from the centre. A share of international flights now use it — landing here means budgeting noticeably more time to reach town.

IATA code: PKX

Distance to centre: ~46 km (far)

Flights: International and domestic

Opened: September 2019 (newer)

From Capital Airport (PEK)

PEK into the city — 4 options compared

If your ticket lands here, read this before you walk out of Arrivals.

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Capital Airport Express (机场快轨)

PEK to Dongzhimen · beats the traffic, most predictable timing

The Capital Airport Express is the airport's own dedicated metro line, running from Terminals 2 and 3 straight into the city to Dongzhimen (东直门) station. The fare is a flat ¥25 and the ride takes about 20–30 minutes — and crucially, it never gets stuck in traffic, so your timing stays predictable even at rush hour. The thing many people don't realise: Dongzhimen isn't the city centre itself, but an interchange that connects to subway Line 2 (the loop around the old city) and Line 13. From there you transfer to the subway to reach your neighbourhood. If your hotel is near Line 2 — around Wangfujing or the Lama Temple, say — this works out very well.

¥25 flat fare 20–30 min to Dongzhimen Transfer to Line 2 / 13 required

Best if: you want predictable timing with no traffic risk, and your hotel is near Line 2 or Line 13. Less ideal with very heavy luggage or if you'd need several subway transfers after Dongzhimen.

Operating hours: Approximately 06:20–22:50 (last train from Dongzhimen back to the airport around 22:30 — check before travelling)

Transfer at Dongzhimen: Connects to subway Line 2 and Line 13, well signposted in English

Paying: Scan the Alipay/WeChat QR or tap a Yikatong card at the gate

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Taxi

PEK to anywhere · most convenient, one rule to remember

A metered taxi from Capital Airport to the city centre runs about ¥100–130 (including the expressway toll) and takes 40–60 minutes in normal traffic — longer during the morning and evening peaks (roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:30). The taxi rank is clearly marked inside the arrivals terminal. The one rule: use only the official rank. People will approach you in the arrivals hall offering a car at a flat rate; decline without engaging and walk straight to the rank. Confirm the driver starts the meter before pulling out of the airport, and keep your hotel address written in Chinese on your phone to show them — most drivers don't speak English.

¥100–130 to the centre 40–60 min depending on traffic Door to door, no transfers

Watch out for: unlicensed touts (black cabs) in the arrivals hall who approach first. They charge flat rates, always higher than the meter. The official rank is well-signed — walk past them straight to it. If a driver won't run the meter, get out and take the next cab in line.

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DiDi (滴滴出行)

Ride-hailing app · similar to the taxi fare, price confirmed upfront

DiDi is China's dominant ride-hailing app and works much like Grab or Uber. The fare from PEK to the city centre is comparable to a metered taxi, but you see the price before you confirm — and you pin your destination in the app, so there's no language barrier over where you're going. Payment goes through Alipay or WeChat Pay, so you don't need cash. The one downside: the pickup point at the airport is a designated zone separate from the taxi rank, so follow the DiDi signs or check the in-app map after booking. Download the app and link your payment method before you land, since airport Wi-Fi can be slow when it's busy.

~¥100–140 to the centre Pay via Alipay / WeChat Pay Fixed price shown upfront

One practical tip: set up Alipay or WeChat with a foreign card before you fly. The moment you land you can scan the QR straight through the gate on the Airport Express and the subway — no queuing for tickets. In China almost everything is paid by QR. See our China payments guide for how to set it up.

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Airport Shuttle Bus

PEK to several city districts · the cheapest option

Airport shuttle buses run from PEK to a number of points around the city — Beijing Railway Station, Xidan, Zhongguancun and others. The fare is very cheap (around ¥20–30 depending on the route), making this the budget choice if a stop happens to be near your hotel and you're not in a rush. The catch is the same as any road vehicle: it gets stuck in traffic, and you'll need to check which line passes your neighbourhood. The ticket desk is in the arrivals hall, with each route's destinations signposted in English.

~¥20–30 per person Depends on route and traffic Several city drop-off points

Best if: you're on the tightest budget and a stop sits near your hotel. Not ideal if you're in a hurry or travelling at peak times, since you can't control the timing the way the Airport Express does.

From Daxing Airport (PKX)

PKX (Daxing) — further out, plan for more time

The newer airport to the south — a share of international flights now use it, and the transfer plan is different from PEK.

PKX is a stunning, modern building, but the thing to remember is that it sits a long way south of the city — around 46 km from the centre. So whichever method you choose, allow more time to get into town than you would from PEK. The upside is that the airport was built for easy onward connections, with both a dedicated express subway line and a high-speed intercity railway inside the terminal itself.

Beijing CBD skyline — modern skyscrapers including the CCTV Headquarters tower — The Beijing CBD skyline you're heading toward (a view of the city, not the airport itself)

Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao (Line 10)

PKX's dedicated express line runs to Caoqiao (草桥) station on subway Line 10 in about 22 minutes, with trains roughly every 10 minutes. From Caoqiao, transfer to Line 10 (the loop) or Line 19 to reach the centre.

Journey: ~22 min to Caoqiao · Fare: ¥35 economy / ¥50 business

Daxing Airport Intercity to Beijing West

A high-speed intercity train runs from PKX to Beijing West Railway Station in roughly 20–30 minutes — fast, but with limited daily departures, so check the timetable first. Handy if you're staying in the west of the city or connecting onward by rail.

Journey: ~20–30 min · Fare: ~¥30–90 (check the timetable before you go)

Taxi / DiDi — direct but pricey

Expect ¥200 or more to the city centre, 60–90 minutes in normal traffic, because the distance is much greater than from PEK. Worth it if you're travelling as a group, have a lot of luggage, or land after the trains stop running.

Journey: ~60–90 min · Fare: ¥200+ to the centre

Airport Bus

Buses run from PKX to several points in the city, and to PEK. The fare is cheap, but the long distance and traffic make it slow. A reasonable choice only if you're on a budget and a stop is near your hotel.

Journey: route-dependent · Fare: around ¥30–40

Important: double-check whether your ticket says PEK or PKX — the two airports are on opposite sides of the city and a long way apart, and turning up at the wrong one on departure day is a nightmare. If you're landing at PKX, allow at least 1.5–2 hours to reach the centre, including the subway transfer.

Connecting between airports

PEK ↔ PKX — leave far more time than you think

If you need to transfer between airports — say, flying into PEK and then catching a domestic departure from PKX — be aware that the two sit in opposite corners of the city: PEK in the northeast, PKX in the south. The distance is considerable and there's no shortcut.

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Inter-airport bus

A direct bus runs between PEK and PKX, but it crosses the entire city, so it takes a long time — typically 2 hours or more depending on traffic. It's inexpensive, but you'll need to build in plenty of buffer, and check the departure schedule in advance.

Budget-friendly ~2 hours or more

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Taxi or DiDi

Expect ¥300 or more, and plan for 1.5–2 hours in normal traffic since it crosses the whole city — longer at peak times. If you have to make a connection between the two airports, build in a minimum buffer of 4 hours, including check-in and security.

¥300+ 1.5–2 hours+

Note: Beijing traffic is heavy during rush hour (roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–20:00). If you must change airports in those windows, build in a generous buffer. Better still, try to book your inbound and outbound flights from the same airport so you never have to cross the city at all.

Beijing — a view of China's capital, where travellers head after clearing the airport — Beijing — where most travellers are heading once they've cleared the airport transfer

Paying for transit

How to pay — no coins required

Beijing's transport runs largely on QR codes, but there are still English-menu ticket machines and a reloadable card if you'd rather not use an app. Sorting out how you'll pay before you land makes the whole thing smoother.

Alipay / WeChat QR (recommended)

Open Alipay or WeChat, go to the Transport or Metro function, and scan the QR at the gate. Fare deducted automatically, no ticket needed. It works on both the Airport Express and the city subway, and it's the slickest option when stations are busy.

Requirement: Link a Visa or Mastercard via international mode — see our China payments guide

Yikatong (一卡通) transit card

Beijing's reloadable transit card, bought and topped up at station counters and machines. It works on the subway, buses and the Airport Express. Worth getting if you're in town for several days and prefer not to link an app.

Cost: Refundable deposit + loaded credit

Single-journey tickets

The vending machines have English-language menus — select your destination station and pay by note, coin or QR to get a ticket to scan in and out. Fine if you don't have an app and don't want to buy a reloadable card.

Upside: No app needed · Downside: Queue every time

Keep your passport on you

Railway stations and the Airport Express in China have bag scanners and security checks before you enter. Have your passport handy — some gates may ask to see it, and having it ready gets you through faster.

Do this: Always carry your physical passport

Frequently asked

FAQ · Before you land in Beijing

What is the difference between PEK and PKX airports in Beijing?

PEK (Beijing Capital International Airport) is the long-established main hub, located in the northeast roughly 25–30 km from the city centre, with Terminals 1, 2 and 3. PKX (Beijing Daxing International Airport) is the newer starfish-shaped airport that opened in September 2019, sitting far to the south, around 46 km from the centre. International flights are split between the two airports, so always check your ticket — and allow extra time if you're landing at PKX.

Where does the Airport Express from PEK go, and how much does it cost?

The Capital Airport Express runs from Terminals 2 and 3 to Dongzhimen (东直门) station, which connects to subway Line 2 and Line 13. The flat fare is ¥25 and the ride takes about 20–30 minutes; from Dongzhimen you transfer to the subway to reach your hotel. It's the option that avoids traffic and keeps your timing predictable, especially during rush hour. More on the network in our Beijing subway guide.

What's the fastest way from Daxing Airport (PKX) into the city?

The fastest and most predictable option is the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao (草桥) station on subway Line 10 — about 22 minutes, ¥35 for an economy seat or ¥50 for a business seat. From Caoqiao, transfer to Line 10 or Line 19 to reach the centre. Alternatively, the Daxing Airport Intercity Railway runs to Beijing West Railway Station in roughly 20–30 minutes, but with limited daily departures, so check the timetable first.

How much does a taxi from Beijing airport cost, and what should I watch out for?

From PEK to the city centre a metered taxi runs about ¥100–130 and takes 40–60 minutes. From PKX it's much further — ¥200 or more, 60–90 minutes. Use only the official taxi rank inside the terminal, clearly signed in English. Ignore anyone who approaches you in the arrivals hall, as these are invariably unlicensed touts charging inflated flat rates. Make sure the driver starts the meter before leaving the airport, and keep your hotel address written in Chinese to show them.

How do I pay for the Airport Express and subway in Beijing?

The easiest option for visitors is to scan the Alipay or WeChat Pay QR at the gate — no ticket needed. Alternatively, buy a reloadable Yikatong (一卡通) card at a counter or machine in the station, which works on the Airport Express, subway and buses. If you don't have an app, single-journey tickets are available from the English-menu vending machines. Set up Alipay with a foreign card before you arrive in China for the smoothest experience — see our China payments guide.

What time does the Airport Express run?

The Capital Airport Express runs approximately 06:20–22:50 (the last train from Dongzhimen back to the airport leaves around 22:30). The Daxing Airport Express runs approximately 06:00–23:00. If your flight lands later than that, take a taxi or DiDi instead. Times can change, so check the schedule for your specific line before travelling.

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