Beijing Airport Arrival and Departure

Arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport ( Code: BJS, PEK )

Beijing Capital Airport is located 18 km northeast of Beijing's northeast third ring road. Beijing Capital Airport comprises three terminals:  T3, T2 and T1. T1 and T2 are linked by a walking corridor while T3 is on the other side of the airport.

The daily free inter-terminal shuttle bus service connects T3 with T2 and T1.  For more information on Beijing Capital Airport, check out the link: http://www.tour-beijing.com/beijing_airport/.

Before arriving, it is better that you know at which Terminal you will arrive by checking your boarding card.  Arrival cards are also available at the customs area if you aren't  given it on the plane.

You need to have China visa to enter Beijing. If you transit at Beijing Capital Airport and eligible for visa-free stay in Beijing, you still need to fill up the free-visa form before you are allowed to enter Beijing. For more information on visa-free stay in Beijing, check out the link http://www.tour-beijing.com/visa_free_travel_beijing/#tips

They all offer fixed exchange rates. you'd better keep receipts as these are needed to change RMB (yuan) back into foreign currency when you leave China.

There is a branch information counter of  Beijing Tourist Information Center in the arrival hall. You may turn to them for hotel booking or other matters like asking them to write the Chinese name of your hotel which is easy for taxi driver to know your hotel.

Beijing Capital Airport has air ticketing counters as well as a train ticket counter. The train ticket office is located  at T2 is on the main hall between international and domestic arrivals. At T3 the train ticket office is located on the departures level at the  left of the domestic check-in counters.

All the airport shuttle buses start from T3 then call at T2 and T1 in succession. If the coming bus is already full,  you will have to wait for the next one.

At the ticket office there is a board showing the bus routes with stops. The buses do not do unscheduled stops and drivers may not always stop at some scheduled stops if they don't see anybody getting ready to disembark. So you must know which stop you will get off in advance.  For more information on airport shuttle buses, check out the link http://www.tour-beijing.com/beijing_airport_shuttle_bus/

Taking a taxi to the city center from Beijing Capital airport is most convenient.When you exit from the arrival hall,  it may happen that some so-called taxi drivers or touts may approach you offering you a taxi ride. Just ignore them since these taxi rides will be unmetered, illegal  or overcharged.

It is preferable to follow the taxi stand sign to queue up for a legal taxi. You may have your hotel or residential area printed out in Chinese coupled with the phone number to make sure you are going to your intended destination. Some chain hotels have several locations in the city of Beijing.

If a seemingly legal taxi driver asks for a fixed price instead of using a meter,  you should insist on turning on the meter or you just leave the taxi. A normal taxi drive from Beijing Capital Airport to the city center of Beijing ( lets'say Wangfujing areaa), it costs about RMB100-120.

There are additional toll fees to be added up to the total cost.  Currently RMB 10  from Terminal 3, and RMB 5 when travelling to Terminals 1 & 2. There is no toll fee from T2 and T1 to the city center of  Beijing. You may pay the toll fee at the toll booth or  add it to the fare when you get to your destination. For more information on Airport taxi, check out the link:  Beijing taxi.

There is also a fast Airport Express Rail links the airport to Beijing's subway line. The airport express rail costs RMB 25 per person. For more information on the airport express train, check out the link: Beijing Airport Express Train.

Many hotels arrange airport pick-up service. There are quite private airport transfer operators in Beijing. They offer airport to hotel door to door transfer service, which cost more than a taxi, but avoid being overcharged,  any problem finding your hotel. For private airport transfers, check out the link: Beijing Airport Transfer.

Making sure you will be at Beijing Capital Airport three hours in advance for your international  flights since most international flights start check in 3 hours in advance.

Given the possible at least one hour on the way from your downtown hotel, basically you need to leave your downtown destination 4 hours in advance if you choose to take a taxi to the airport.

Allow yourself to have enough time to go to the airport. In addition, you need to go to the right terminal at the airport.  You know both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 receive international flights. T2 and T3 are located apart. If you get to a wrong terminal, you may take the inter-terminal shuttle to solve the problem.

Once finishing your exit procedures, security etc., you may use the free Wifi available in the airport area. To get your password, you need to scan your passport at one of the self service machines to get the log in and password. If you are a chain smoker, you will be happy to find a smoking room inside the waiting hall.

If you are using domestic flights service or airport transfers,  you need to be at the airport at least 2 hours in advance and basically the domestic flight check-in desks close 45 minutes before departure.

Alternatively, you can use some of the hotels near Beijing airport:

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Beijing guided tours:

Further Readings