Beijing Airport to City: PEK and PKX

Which airport, and which ride?

PEK — Beijing Capital International Airport, 北京首都国际机场 — is northeast of Beijing. PKX — Beijing Daxing International Airport, 北京大兴国际机场 — is south of the city. They are separate airports. Send your driver the airport code, terminal and flight number, not just “Beijing airport”.

If you are still choosing flights, compare the fare and arrival time against your hotel’s location. A late landing and a long hotel transfer can outweigh a cheaper flight. If you are connecting to another flight, use the separate Beijing layover guide; this page is for arriving and staying in Beijing.

Option	Cost basis	Choose it when
PEK Airport Express	CNY 25 per person, plus onward metro	Rail is running and your bags are manageable through transfers.
PKX Daxing Airport Express	CNY 35 per person to Caoqiao, plus onward metro	Your hotel has a practical connection from Caoqiao.
Airport bus	Fare depends on the route; check the counter	A current stop is useful for your hotel, including at night.
Official taxi	Metered vehicle fare; road charges and night conditions affect the total	You want a hotel drop-off without setting up a ride-hailing account.
DiDi / other app ride	Live quote for the selected vehicle and trip	Your account, data and payment work, and you can reach the assigned pickup zone.
Pre-booked transfer	Package price plus any stated extras	You want the vehicle size and meeting arrangements agreed before landing.

Compare the whole group and the whole journey. For three adults, the airport-train legs total CNY 75 from PEK or CNY 105 from PKX, before onward fares. For four adults, they are CNY 100 and CNY 140. This arithmetic does not prove a car is cheaper: obtain a quote that fits the passengers and their luggage. A five-seat car does not necessarily fit four large suitcases.

Use the Beijing neighbourhood guide and city map to locate your hotel before selecting the rail interchange. A booking labelled “downtown Beijing” may still have a substantial last leg.

From Capital Airport (PEK)

Follow Airport Express / 首都机场线 signs. The airport lists the T2 station at basement level 2 of the T2 parking building and the T3 station on level 2 of the T3 parking building. The train serves Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen and Beixinqiao; choose the interchange that fits your hotel:

• Sanyuanqiao 三元桥: Lines 10 and 12.
• Dongzhimen 东直门: Lines 2 and 13.
• Beixinqiao 北新桥: Line 5.

The single fare is CNY 25. The airport’s published operating times are 06:22–22:52 at T3 and 06:36–23:10 at T2. They are station departure times, not the latest flight arrival times that can connect. Allow for immigration, baggage and walking; check that the onward metro is still running. Capital Airport’s current transport guide.

If you need help buying a ticket, the city’s PEK transport guide describes assistance at the Beijing Service counter. Take your passport and show the hotel’s Chinese address. If an app or card will not work, ask for a staffed ticket purchase rather than spending your connection time troubleshooting your phone.

From Daxing Airport (PKX)

Follow Daxing Airport Express / 大兴机场线 towards Caoqiao 草桥, then choose the onward metro or a car for the final leg. Caoqiao connects with Lines 10 and 19. It is an interchange, not a hotel district that automatically counts as your destination.

The standard one-way airport–Caoqiao fare is CNY 35. The transport commission’s fare notice distinguishes it from the shorter, cheaper sections of the line. Do not use a short-section price for the full airport ride.

The operator’s timetable lists airport departures 06:00–23:00, extended to 23:30 on Sundays. Ticket sales and gate entry stop five minutes before the last departure; the operator recommends entering at least ten minutes before it. For the return journey, Caoqiao’s published hours are 05:30–22:30. Temporary operating notices can supersede these times.

Plan the last connection as well as the airport train. Reaching Caoqiao after your onward line has finished means buying a second ride. Construction announcements about the Lize extension are not proof it is open: the September 16 city update still describes Lize as a future connection.

What if you land late at night?

Once you are through arrivals, check the remaining rail connections. If they no longer work, use the official taxi queue, an app ride at its designated zone, a confirmed transfer, or a bus whose stop gets you close enough to the hotel.

Night buses remain an option. The city’s July 2026 airport-bus update announced round-the-clock service on the PEK–Beijing West Railway Station route and the PKX–Beijing Railway Station service, including its night routing. Other routes have different hours. Ask the counter about the next departure, your exact stop and the last leg to the hotel. “24-hour service” does not mean every route runs all night.

For current bus departures, the published 24-hour enquiry numbers are +86 10 6437 8900 (PEK) and +86 10 8169 8565 (PKX). Save your hotel address in Chinese so staff can identify a useful stop.

A temporary free-bus offer at PKX

The airport’s published campaign runs until October 31, 2026 for eligible independent travellers arriving on international or Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights. Present your boarding pass or other flight proof at the Beijing Service counter outside international/regional baggage claim, register for a voucher, then go to the bus counter near Gate 20 on level 1 to confirm the route and departure.

The notice specifies 02:00–23:00, selected routes, daily quotas and one ride per voucher. It excludes the Fangshan, Yizhuang and Tiantongyuan routes. Do not assume a free ride after midnight, a seat without a voucher, or eligibility after the campaign ends. Ask staff for the current route: bus routings were updated after the original campaign notice.

Where to find your taxi or app ride

Taxi queues and app pickup zones are different. Follow Taxi / 出租车 for a regular metered taxi. For an app booking, follow E-hailing / 网约车, then match the terminal, floor, zone and bay shown in the booking. A private-transfer meeting point follows the supplier’s confirmation instead.

Airport	Published app-ride pickup point
PEK T2	Level 1, southeast side of the T2 parking building.
PEK T3	B2, H zone of the T3 parking building.
PKX	New e-hailing area northeast of the terminal, in the former P2 parking building. The official route is via Gate 14 on the east side of terminal level 2.

PEK locations come from the airport transport guide. PKX changed its pickup area on September 15, 2026: the city transport notice replaces the old P1 level-1M location. Older saved posts can send you to the wrong place. Follow current airport signs and your assigned bay.

If you cannot find the car

1. Stop at a signed landmark and check the airport code, terminal and floor in the app. Recheck the pickup pin before ordering another car.
2. Send the driver the zone/bay number and a photo of the nearby sign. Confirm the plate and vehicle against the order before boarding.
3. If the driver asks you to cancel and pay privately, keep the conversation in the booking channel and contact support. Do not assume the replacement arrangement has the same price or protection.
4. If communication fails, ask airport staff for the official taxi queue. Resolve or cancel the existing booking under its terms before leaving, so a second ride does not leave an active first order.

If you have a trolley, a pushchair or limited mobility, ask staff for the step-free route to your assigned zone. Do not follow a shortcut that requires carrying bags down stairs.

Useful question: “请问网约车上车区怎么走？” — “How do I get to the app-ride pickup area?” Keep the hotel’s full Chinese name, address and telephone number offline. The city’s arrival guide also recommends having the address in Chinese. Prepare Alipay and mobile data before your flight where possible; an app ride needs a working account and connection.

When to book a private airport transfer

A pre-booked vehicle is worth comparing when several travellers have large bags, someone needs a simpler hotel arrival, or you want the meeting arrangements agreed before a late flight. If you travel light and the full rail route works, the train remains a useful price benchmark.

The linked Klook activity is primarily a PEK transfer. Its description mentions a possible PKX surcharge, while the visible airport selector lists PEK. For PKX, get written confirmation of airport coverage and the full price before paying; do not book PEK and assume the driver will collect you at Daxing. Supplier listing.

Check these details against your selected package:

• Flight and hotel: arrival date, flight number, terminal, exact address and any area surcharge.
• Vehicle: every passenger, including children, plus suitcase sizes and count. The listing’s vehicle summaries differ, so get capacity confirmed for the actual option.
• Meeting and delays: meeting point, driver contact method, included waiting time, when the clock starts and charges if immigration or the flight is delayed.
• Children and communication: the listing says no child seat is provided and the driver speaks Chinese, with English assistance from online staff. If you need a child seat, use a service that confirms one; do not assume this package includes it.
• Total and changes: airport surcharge, tolls, parking, extra stops, cancellation and a return trip if required. Confirm what is included rather than relying on the headline price.

Save these before you land

Save your flight’s airport code and terminal, the Chinese hotel address, your chosen route and a late-arrival alternative. For a booked car, save the confirmation and supplier contact details offline. Tell the hotel if you expect to check in after midnight.

Continue with the Beijing first-trip guide, neighbourhood and hotel choices, or Forbidden City booking steps once your arrival is settled.

Checks and sources

Official transport pages and the public supplier listing were checked on September 25, 2026. All times are Beijing local time. Airport-rail fares are published standard fares; taxi, bus and transfer totals depend on the actual journey and current terms. We have not made a test transfer booking or travelled these routes for this guide.

Sources are linked beside the relevant fares, timetables, pickup instructions and offer conditions. Public traveller discussions helped identify pickup and communication problems; airport and transport-authority notices determine the instructions above.