Beijing Airports to the City: Capital & Daxing (2026 Guide)

Beijing has two international airports and several ways into the city — and picking the right one saves you time and money. Here’s the 2026 breakdown for Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX), with times, prices and what to choose.

If this is your first landing in China, read our airport arrival guide first for the step-by-step walkthrough of immigration, baggage and money before you tackle the transfer into town.

The two airports

The two airports sit about an hour apart by road, so the most important thing is to check your ticket before you book a hotel. Everything below is split by airport so you can jump straight to the one you are actually flying into.

From Capital Airport (PEK)

• Airport Express (best): the dedicated train to Dongzhimen (change to metro lines 2/13) — about 25 minutes, ¥25, every 15 min from ~6am–11pm. No traffic, reliable.
• Airport bus: ¥24–50, about an hour, with lines to Beijing West/South stations, Qinghe, Tongzhou and more. Several lines now run 24 hours or until 2am (2026).
• Taxi / ride-hailing: ¥100–200, 40–70 min depending on traffic. Best for groups or heavy bags.

From Daxing Airport (PKX)

• Daxing Airport Line (best): to Caoqiao station in 19–25 minutes, ¥35 (¥50 business class), where you change to metro lines 10/19 — about 50–60 minutes door to door. Pay with Alipay/WeChat transit codes, a BEIJING PASS card, or ticket machines.
• Beijing–Xiong’an intercity rail: to Beijing West — ¥17–30, ~30 min, less crowded than the metro, and you arrive near the city’s western core.
• Airport bus: ¥25–50, 60–90 min, nine routes covering Beijing station, Zhongguancun, Yizhuang and more.
• Taxi / ride-hailing: ¥150–250, 40–70 min. PKX’s app has an official shared-ride option that’s cheaper if you’re alone.

Which should you choose?

Step-by-step: the Capital Airport Express

For most travellers landing at PEK, the Airport Express is the default. Here is exactly how it works, terminal to turnstile.

1. Follow the signs. After baggage claim, look for the “Airport Express” and train icons in English. The station is signposted from the arrivals hall — follow the signs and you will be at the platform in a few minutes.
2. Buy a ticket or scan. At the ticket machines, tap the English button, select the Airport Express and pay ¥25. The machines take Alipay/WeChat QR and some take cash. If you already have Alipay set up, you can simply scan your transit QR at the gate and skip the machine — see our Alipay guide to set it up before you fly.
3. Board the train. Trains leave every ~15 minutes from about 6am to 11pm. The ride takes about 25 minutes and never gets stuck in traffic — you will be at Dongzhimen before you know it.
4. Change at Dongzhimen. Tap out, then follow signs to metro lines 2 or 13 and continue to the stop nearest your hotel. For help with the rest of the network, see our Beijing metro guide.

If you are staying near Dongzhimen itself, you can be done within half an hour of leaving the arrivals hall.

Late-night arrivals

Beijing’s trains wind down around 11pm. If your flight lands late, here is what changes.

• PEK: several airport bus lines run 24 hours or until 2am, including the Xizhan line. Fares are ¥24–50 and the ride takes about an hour — the cheap way in once the Airport Express has stopped.
• PKX: the Beijing station airport bus line runs late as well, and the airport’s official app offers a shared-ride taxi option that costs less if you are travelling alone.
• Taxi / Didi: always available, 24 hours. Expect ¥100–200 from PEK and ¥150–250 from PKX, with a night surcharge on top of the meter. See our taxi guide for how metered fares work in China.

If you land after midnight, a taxi or a late-night bus are essentially your only options — budget a little extra and have your hotel address written in Chinese before you leave the terminal. Whatever the hour, use the official taxi rank or a licensed app rather than anyone who approaches you in the arrivals hall — that is the single most important rule at any Chinese airport.

Cost comparison at a glance

All prices are estimates and shift with traffic, time of day and exact distance. The two express trains have a fixed fare and a fixed travel time, which is why they win in rush hour.

Practical tips

• Use official channels only — the official taxi ranks, the express trains, or licensed ride-hailing. Ignore anyone who approaches you inside the terminal.
• Set up payment first: Alipay transit codes cover the airport express, metro and buses — see our payments guide.
• Know your hotel area: most stays cluster around Wangfujing, Qianmen or the CBD — see where to stay in Beijing. Dongzhimen is the transfer point for the Airport Express.
• Returning to the airport: leave extra time, especially for PKX — budget an hour or more to the city. For international departures, add the usual check-in and security buffer on top.
• Weather and packing: your transfer is easier with less luggage — our packing guide helps you travel light.
• Stay connected: install an eSIM for China before you fly, or set up the apps you’ll need — having data before you leave the terminal makes booking a ride or checking your route far easier.
• General metro help: our Beijing metro guide covers the system.

Returning to the airport

The trip back is the same in reverse, but allow more margin. From the city, the PEK Airport Express leaves from Dongzhimen and is the traffic-proof way out; for PKX, take the Daxing Line from Caoqiao. PKX is the farther airport, so check your terminal and add time for check-in and security. If your flight departs very early, confirm the first train times or book a taxi in advance through a licensed ride-hailing app.

Where this fits

Beijing is the first stop on the 7-day, 10-day and two-week routes. Get in smoothly and you’re set for the city itself — see the Beijing guide.

Fares and times as of August 2026, based on official Beijing transport announcements — confirm current schedules on the airport or operator sites before you travel.