Airport guide · Beijing
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK): transfers, terminals & the 2026 changes
T1 is closed, T3-D's airside train paused in July 2026, and the Airport Express stops before 23:00 — the details that decide a smooth arrival. And first: PEK is not PKX; Beijing's two airports sit ~70-80 km apart.
China for Travelers EditorialUpdated Timings & terminal status re-verified Jul 2026
- Airport Express
- ¥25
- last trains T3 22:52 / T2 23:10
- To Sanlitun / CBD
- ~48 min
- Express + Line 10
- Taxi / DiDi
- ¥100-150
- ~45-70 min off-peak
- To PKX Daxing
- ~80 km
- taxi ~1.5 h · bus ¥55
Two checks before you fly. ① PEK or PKX? — Beijing's two airports are ~70-80 km apart; confirm the code on the ticket. ② Ignore anything routing you to Terminal 1 — it has been closed to scheduled flights since May 2020; PEK flights use T2 or T3 (boarding pass shows which).
Flying into Beijing — PEK or PKX?
Beijing's two airports sit on opposite sides of the city, ~70-80 km apart by road:
PEK — Beijing Capital (this page): Most international long-haul (Europe/N-America/Japan/Korea) lands here — closer in (~30 km NE), mature 24 h immigration, best if you stay in the north/center (Chaoyang, Dongcheng, Haidian).
PKX — Beijing Daxing: PKX Daxing (~46-50 km south) hosts many domestic + SE-Asia/Middle-East routes and some Europe long-haul — the pick if you stay in the south or ride its ¥35 express to Caoqiao. See the PKX airport guide.
Between the two: Taxi ~1.5 h (~¥300) · direct bus from PEK T3 Level-1 Door 7 (¥55, ~2 h, a few fixed departures daily) · metro chain ~2 h (~¥60). ~70-80 km by road — allow half a day for any inter-airport transfer. Full side-by-side comparison (airlines, scenarios, connection maths): Beijing Capital vs Daxing — PEK or PKX?
Beijing airport transfer: which option is right for you?
Three ways from PEK into the city — pick by where you stay, when you land, and how much you carry:
Airport railCapital Airport Express 首都机场线
¥25 flat (e-ticket codes from ~¥15.9)
→ Sanyuanqiao (Line 10), Dongzhimen (Line 2/13), Beixinqiao (Line 5) · ~24 min to Sanyuanqiao; ~48-75 min door-to-door to central spots
Pick it if: the default — beats traffic, every ~10 min (peak ~20 min headway reported on branches)
Serves T3 and T2 (one stop apart). Last trains from the airport: T3 22:52, T2 23:10; from town: Beixinqiao 22:26 / Dongzhimen 22:30 / Sanyuanqiao 22:34.
BusAirport buses 机场巴士
¥20-35 by line (Fengtai line now ¥35)
→ Beijing Chaoyang HSR, Beijing South, Beijing West, Fengtai, Xidan and more · ~60-110 min by line and traffic
Pick it if: a direct line to your area, heavy luggage — or any landing after ~23:00
Lines run until the last flight lands. 2025-26 tweaks: the Beijing Chaoyang HSR line now runs hourly; new pickup/drop points added on the Xizhimen/Yonghegong and Beijing South lines.
Taxi / ride-hailTaxi / DiDi
¥100-150 metered off-peak (more at peak)
→ central Beijing · ~45-70 min off-peak; 90+ min in rush hour
Pick it if: groups of 2-3, lots of bags — often cheaper per person than the metro
Taxi rank: escalator from T3 arrivals (1F) down to the B1 marshalled queue. Ride-hailing pickup: T3 west side, follow signs to the designated garage. DiDi takes foreign cards via its app or the Alipay mini-program.
Landing late? After the Airport Express stops (T3 22:52 / T2 23:10), ride-hail queues spike and matches slow — the airport buses are the reliable late option (they run until the final flight lands), or pre-book a car.
For a red-eye arrival, heavy luggage or a family, a pre-booked private transfer puts a driver at arrivals with your name — no post-23:00 ride-hail queue:
Compare PEK private transfers on Trip.com
Where most PEK arrivals head first — the driving corridors (green pin = the airport, red = the destination):
The last mile: what to show, where to stand, where to buy
Four things reliably strand people at PEK once the big decision is made: the characters to show a driver, where a ride-hailing car is actually allowed to collect you, how you buy the Airport Express ticket, and — the one that ruins connections — how you cross between T2 and T3.
1. Show this to your driver
Show the characters on your phone rather than trying to pronounce them. Name the terminal, not just the airport — T2 and T3 are ~3 km apart with separate approach roads:
| Show this | What it says |
|---|---|
| 北京首都国际机场 | Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) |
| 北京首都国际机场2号航站楼 | Capital Airport Terminal 2 |
| 北京首都国际机场3号航站楼 | Capital Airport Terminal 3 |
| 北京市朝阳区首都机场路11号 | The airport street address |
| 北京大兴国际机场 | Daxing — the OTHER airport. Never say just “机场” |
Names and the street address cross-checked against Amap (高德地图) POI records, 2026-07-27.
2. Ride-hailing: where to stand, what to type
PEK has designated ride-hailing waiting areas (网约车候车区) — cars are not allowed to pick up from the arrivals kerb, so ordering the moment you clear customs just starts a clock while you are still on the wrong level. Walk to the zone first:
Terminal 2
Level B1, below the arrivals hall — the same level as the marshalled taxi queue
Terminal 3
Follow the 网约车 signs from arrivals to the designated car-park zone on the west side
Flying out, type the terminal. Set 北京首都国际机场3号航站楼 (or 2号航站楼) as the destination — not “Beijing airport”, which in this city is genuinely ambiguous between Capital and Daxing, 70-80 km apart.
DiDi Rider, the international app, installs without a Chinese SIM, runs in English and takes most foreign Visa and Mastercard; the 滴滴出行 mini-program inside Alipay is the other reliable route. Setup in our DiDi for foreigners guide. The official metered taxi rank is separate: from T3 arrivals on Level 1, take the escalator down to B1, where the queue is marshalled — never accept an approach inside the terminal.
3. Where to buy the Airport Express ticket
The Capital Airport Express (首都机场线) has its own gateline and its own flat ¥25 fare — it is not covered by a normal metro single. Buy at the ticket machines or the staffed window at the station inside your terminal; the two airport stations are signed 3号航站楼 and 2号航站楼 and sit one stop apart on the line. The staffed window is the fallback worth knowing: it takes cash, and a human can sort out a card the machine refuses.
Last trains leave the airport at 22:52 from T3 and 23:10 from T2 — after that the airport buses run until the final flight lands, and ride-hail matching slows badly around midnight.
4. Crossing between T2 and T3
The most-searched PEK question after “how do I get downtown”, and the answer is reassuring: a free shuttle bus runs landside between the two terminals, ~10 minutes end to end, dropping you at the other terminal's departures level.
Where to board
T2 — arrivals level, Door 7. T3 — arrivals level, Doors 7-9.
How often
Every 10 min or better, 06:00-23:00; every 15 min or better overnight.
How long to allow
~10 min riding, but budget 30 min door to door with bags and the walk to the door.
The rail alternative
The Airport Express also links T3 and T2 — one stop, if you already hold a ticket.
Shuttle boarding doors and headways per Beijing Capital Airport passenger guidance, checked 2026-07-27. Connecting airside instead? Follow the Transfer signs to the airside shuttle near gate 62 and allow 40 minutes or more.
Terminals: T2, T3 — and what happened to T1
T2 — SkyTeam (China Eastern) + some Air China / Hainan international and domestic. Since 2023 the old T1 airside serves as the T2 West Satellite (Hainan Airlines domestic etc.) — reached on foot via the 590 m corridor + travelators opened 2026-06 (~5 min; the apron shuttle is gone).
T3 — the 2008 mega-terminal — Star Alliance, oneworld, most international; check-in at T3-C, international gates at T3-E, T3-D mostly domestic. T3-C↔T3-E airside APM runs as normal; T3-D is served by an airside shuttle bus while its APM is suspended (2026-07, upgrade works) — allow +30 min for T3-D gates.
T1 has had no scheduled passenger flights since May 2020 — its airside is now the T2 West Satellite. A T3 renovation program (security-zone move at T3-C, check-in island rebuilds, T3-D conversion) runs to ~2028; expect localised works and follow on-site signage.
Read your boarding pass: Check the terminal on the boarding pass: T2 vs T3 are ~3 km apart. Landside transfer: free shuttle from Door 7, Level 1 at either terminal (~10-15 min ride, allow 30 min). Airside transit: follow Transfer signs to the shuttle near gate 62, allow 40+ min.
Fast facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 北京首都国际机场 (Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīchǎng) |
| IATA / ICAO | PEK / ZBAA |
| Location | ~30 km northeast of Tiananmen (Shunyi/Chaoyang side) |
| Terminals | T2 + T3 (T1 closed since 2020-05; its airside = T2 West Satellite) |
| T3 layout | Check-in T3-C · international gates T3-E · T3-D mostly domestic |
| 2026 works | T3-D airside APM suspended (shuttle bus, +30 min); T3 renovation to ~2028 |
| Airport Express | ¥25 flat · T3 + T2 · last trains T3 22:52 / T2 23:10 |
| To Sanlitun / Guomao | ~48 min · Airport Express + Line 10 |
| To Wangfujing | ~62 min · Airport Express + Line 5 |
| To Beijing South (HSR) | ~75 min by metro · dedicated airport-bus line |
| Taxi / DiDi | ¥100-150 metered · ~45-70 min off-peak · rank at T3 B1 |
| VAT refund | Stamp at T3-C Door 6 (landside) → payout at T3-E (airside) |
| To PKX Daxing | ~70-80 km by road · taxi ~1.5 h ~¥300 · bus ¥55 from T3 Door 7 |
Onward: high-speed rail and the Great Wall
Flying into PEK then taking an HSR onward? The main hub is Beijing South Railway Station — Airport Express → Dongzhimen → Line 2 → Xuanwumen → Line 4 (or the Beijing South airport-bus line), ~75 min by metro. For the Beijing-Chaoyang HSR hub (Harbin/northeast trains) the dedicated airport bus now runs hourly — simpler than the metro chain. Badaling Great Wall trains leave from Qinghe/Beijing North. For Xi'an / Hong Kong trains from Beijing West, the dedicated airport-bus line or a ~80-90 min metro chain. Booking paths in 12306 vs Trip.com.
PEK → the Great Wall
No direct shuttle exists — go via the city. Mutianyu (the better foreigner section): Airport Express → Dongzhimen → 916 Express bus → local shuttle, ~2.5-3 h, or a day tour with hotel pickup. Badaling: the Jingzhang HSR from Qinghe to Badaling Great Wall station (~22 min on the train). Treat the Wall as a day trip from town, not an airport connection.
In-terminal services
SIM cards
- Carrier service counters (China Mobile / Unicom / Telecom) — T3 arrivals level, landside — positions shift with the T3 works; follow the signage on landing.
Passport real-name registration is required at any counter. Counter positions are in flux during the T3 renovation — a travel eSIM activated before landing (data-only, no +86 number) is the lower-friction path. See our connectivity guide, or grab a Trip.com travel eSIM →
VAT refund (离境退税) — two stops, in order
Where: T3: customs stamp at the China Customs desk inside T3-C international departures Door 6 (before bag drop); payout window airside at T3-E (right-hand side after the C→E APM). T2 has its own counters on the departures level.
Stamp first, payout second: show passport + boarding pass + unused goods + the shop-issued forms at the T3-C customs desk, drop bags, clear security, ride the C→E APM, then cash or card refund at the T3-E window (cash is usually faster).
Timing: The stamp queue plus the APM leg eats time — arrive ~3 h before an international departure if you plan to refund.
Eligibility basics: ≥¥200 per store per day at a participating “Tax Free”-marked retailer (threshold lowered from ¥500 in April 2025), goods leaving China unused, the shop-issued refund form. Full sequence in the China departure checklist.
Customs (海关申报)
Standard PRC two-channel system after baggage claim: green (nothing to declare — most visitors walk through) or red for declarable items — cash ≥ US$5,000-equivalent or ≥ ¥20,000 RMB, goods above the personal allowance (~¥5,000 inbound for foreigners), antiques/artwork leaving China (export approval + wax seal required), professional camera/drone kits worth declaring on arrival so departure customs can't treat them as China purchases.
Sleeping at or near PEK
In / at the terminals: JI Hotel (全季) inside T2 at B1 — the connecting-passenger pick. Nearest capsule rest: the parking-garage timed-rest pods opposite T3 (from T3 Level-2 arrivals Door B, cross the link bridge, two escalators down to B1, opposite Starbucks).
On the field & nearby: Hilton Beijing Capital Airport — the only international 5-star on the field, covered walkway to T3. Budget-mid cluster in Tianzhu ~1.5-2 km from T3 (Cordis-adjacent chains, usually with terminal shuttles).
For where to base the rest of the trip, see Where to stay in Beijing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) the same as Beijing Daxing (PKX)?
No — Beijing has two major international airports, ~70-80 km apart by road. PEK (Beijing Capital, 首都国际机场) is the older hub in the northeast, ~30 km from Tiananmen; most international long-haul (Europe, North America, Japan, Korea) concentrates here. PKX (Beijing Daxing, 大兴国际机场) is the 2019 mega-airport in the far south, with many domestic + SE-Asia/Middle-East routes and some Europe long-haul. They are NOT interchangeable: between them is a ~1.5 h taxi (~¥300), a direct bus from PEK T3 Level-1 Door 7 (¥55, ~2 h, a few fixed departures daily), or a ~2 h metro chain (~¥60). Check the airport code on your ticket, not just 'Beijing'.
Which PEK terminal will my flight use — and what happened to T1?
Terminal 1 has had no scheduled passenger flights since May 2020. Its airside was converted in 2023 into the T2 West Satellite (used by Hainan Airlines domestic and others) — and since June 2026 a 590 m airside corridor with travelators links it to T2 in a ~5-minute walk, replacing the old apron shuttle. Everything else uses T2 (SkyTeam/China Eastern + some Air China and Hainan international) or T3 (Star Alliance, oneworld, most international — check-in at T3-C, international gates at T3-E, T3-D mostly domestic). Your boarding pass shows the terminal; T2 and T3 are ~3 km apart — free landside shuttle from Door 7, Level 1 (~10-15 min ride, allow 30), or the airside transfer shuttle near gate 62 (allow 40+).
What changed at T3 in 2026 — is the airside train still running?
Partly. The T3-C ↔ T3-E automated people-mover (the one international passengers ride to E-gates and back) runs as normal. But the T3-D leg of the airside train was suspended from July 2026 for renovation works — T3-D gates (mostly domestic) are served by an airside shuttle bus instead (departs when full, ~5-min headway off-peak), and the routing is more roundabout: allow an extra 30 minutes if your boarding pass shows a T3-D gate. A wider T3 renovation program (security-zone move at T3-C, check-in island rebuilds, T3-D conversion) runs to ~2028, so expect localised works and follow on-site signage.
What's the fastest way from PEK to central Beijing?
The Capital Airport Express (首都机场线): ¥25 flat (e-ticket ride codes sell from ~¥15.9), serving T3 and T2, then Sanyuanqiao (transfer Line 10), Dongzhimen (Line 2/13) and Beixinqiao (Line 5). Door-to-door per Amap routing: ~48 min to Sanlitun or the Guomao CBD, ~62 min to Wangfujing, ~75 min to Beijing South Railway Station. Last trains from the airport: T3 22:52, T2 23:10. A taxi/DiDi runs ¥100-150 metered and ~45-70 min off-peak — often better per-person for groups of 2-3 — but can hit 90+ minutes in rush hour.
I land after 23:00 — how do I get into the city?
The Airport Express stops early (T3 22:52 / T2 23:10), and right after it closes the ride-hailing queues spike — matches slow badly around midnight. The reliable late options: the airport buses, which keep running until the last flight of the night lands (¥20-35 by line, to Dongzhimen, Beijing South, Beijing West and more), the 24 h marshalled taxi rank (B1 below T3 arrivals), or a pre-booked private transfer with a driver waiting at arrivals.
How do I get from PEK to the Great Wall?
There is no direct airport shuttle to Mutianyu or Badaling — come into the city first. Mutianyu (the better foreigner option): Airport Express to Dongzhimen, the 916 Express bus to Huairou, then a local shuttle/taxi — ~2.5-3 h total; most travellers instead do it as a day tour with hotel pickup. Badaling: Airport Express toward town, then the Jingzhang HSR from Qinghe station to Badaling Great Wall station (~22 min on the train). Plan the Wall as a day trip from central Beijing, not straight off a long-haul landing.
Where is the VAT refund at PEK and how long does it take?
Two stops at T3, in order. First the China Customs verification desk inside T3-C international departures, straight in from Door 6 (BEFORE bag drop) — show passport, boarding pass, the unused goods and the shop-issued refund forms for the stamp. Then after security, ride the C→E people-mover to T3-E: the refund window is on the right-hand side entering the concourse, paying cash (faster) or to card. The stamp queue plus the APM leg eats time — arrive ~3 hours before an international departure if you plan to refund. T2 departures has its own counters.
Are there hotels and rest pods at PEK?
Yes. The Hilton Beijing Capital Airport is the only international five-star on the field, linked to T3 by a covered walkway. Inside T2 at B1 sits a JI Hotel (全季) — the practical pick for connecting passengers. Nearest capsule rest to T3 is the timed-rest pod lounge in the parking structure: from T3 Level-2 arrivals Door B, cross the link bridge, ride two escalators down to B1 — it faces the Starbucks. A budget-mid chain cluster sits in Tianzhu, ~1.5-2 km from T3, most with terminal shuttles.
Related Beijing guides
- Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) — the other Beijing airport, ~70-80 km south.
- Beijing South Railway Station — the Shanghai/Tianjin HSR hub, ~75 min from PEK.
- Beijing West Railway Station — Xi'an / Hong Kong trains.
- Where to stay in Beijing — neighbourhoods compared for first-timers.
- Beijing city guide — attractions, transport, essentials.
- 240-hour visa-free transit — PEK is an eligible transit port for most Western nationalities.
- Staying connected in China — eSIM + roaming before you land.
Browse Beijing hotels on Trip.com
Sources
Verified first-hand by this editor: 2023-2026 transits and arrivals via T3 (Star Alliance) and T2 (one Air China domestic), plus two Capital Airport Express rides into central Beijing.
Checked 2026-05-21–07 — door-to-door transit durations from Amap (高德地图) routing, and the 2026 terminal-status set (T1 closed, T2 West Satellite corridor opened June, T3-D airside-train suspension from July, the Airport Express last trains and the left-luggage and rest-pod locations) from aggregated 2026-07 traveller reports cross-checked against operator notices. Terminal works run to ~2028, the hotel and rest-pod figures are aggregated bands, and airline terminal assignments shift — follow the on-site gate signage, and treat the airline app as authoritative on where your flight leaves from.