Beijing Airport Transfer: The Short Answer
For most daytime arrivals with light luggage, the airport express is the simplest low-cost option. From PEK, the Capital Airport Express connects the airport with Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen. From PKX, the Daxing Airport Express runs to Caoqiao, where you can continue by subway or taxi.
If you are arriving late, carrying several bags, traveling with children, heading directly to a hotel, or simply do not want to make another connection after a long flight, an official taxi, DiDi, or pre-booked private transfer is usually more convenient.
Before planning anything, check the three-letter airport code on your ticket: PEK and PKX are different airports on opposite sides of Beijing.
- PEK — Beijing Capital International Airport
- PKX — Beijing Daxing International Airport
- PEK Airport Express — 25 RMB
- PKX Airport Express to Caoqiao — 35 RMB
- Door-to-door options — taxi, DiDi or private transfer
PEK or PKX? Check Your Airport First
Beijing airport transportation becomes much easier once you identify the correct airport.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is northeast of central Beijing. It is particularly convenient for eastern and central districts such as Dongcheng, Sanlitun, the embassy area and Wangjing.
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) is south of the city. Its dedicated airport express reaches Caoqiao quickly, but travelers continuing to central, northern or eastern Beijing still need an onward subway, taxi or car journey.
Do not assume that a flight labelled simply "Beijing" uses Capital Airport. Always check PEK or PKX on your booking before choosing a transfer.
| PEK — Capital Airport | PKX — Daxing Airport | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Northeast of Beijing | South of Beijing |
| Airport rail | Capital Airport Express | Daxing Airport Express |
| Main city interchange | Sanyuanqiao / Dongzhimen | Caoqiao |
| Express fare | 25 RMB | 35 RMB to Caoqiao |
| Best suited to | East / central Beijing | South Beijing and travelers comfortable connecting at Caoqiao |
| Door-to-door choice | Taxi, DiDi or private transfer | Taxi, DiDi or private transfer |
Beijing Airport Transfer Options Compared
There is no single best transfer for every traveler. The practical choice depends on your airport, arrival time, final address, luggage and whether you want door-to-door transport.
| Cost structure | Door to door? | Traffic risk | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Express | Fixed rail fare | No | None on rail section | Daytime arrivals, light luggage, budget travel |
| Official taxi | Metered fare + applicable tolls | Yes | Yes | Simple direct hotel transfer |
| DiDi | App-based quoted fare | Yes | Yes | Travelers comfortable using ride-hailing |
| Private transfer | Fixed quote before booking | Yes | Yes | Families, luggage, late arrivals, business travel, pre-arranged pickup |
| Airport bus | Route-based fare | Usually no | Yes | Travelers whose destination matches a bus route |
The airport express is usually the most predictable option because it avoids road traffic, but neither airport express takes you directly to most hotels. Taxi, DiDi and private transfer remove the final connection. Airport buses can be useful when a current route stops close to your destination.
From Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
PEK has several straightforward ways into Beijing. For most visitors, the realistic choices are the Capital Airport Express, an official taxi, DiDi, or a pre-booked private vehicle.
PEK Option 1: Capital Airport Express
The Capital Airport Express connects Beijing Capital International Airport with Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen.
The fare is 25 RMB per person.
Dongzhimen connects with Beijing Subway Lines 2 and 13, while Sanyuanqiao provides useful onward connections for eastern Beijing. The airport express is particularly useful when traffic is heavy and you are comfortable taking a subway or taxi for the final part of the journey.
Best for:
- Solo travelers
- Couples with manageable luggage
- Daytime arrivals
- Hotels near convenient subway connections
Less convenient for:
- Families with several bags
- Travelers with limited mobility
- Hotels requiring multiple connections
- Arrivals after the last train
*Current fare reference: Beijing Municipal Government / Beijing Subway. Check the official airport or subway service before travel for current operating hours.*
PEK Option 2: Official Taxi
Follow the airport signs to the official taxi queue. Beijing taxis use meters, and the final fare depends on your destination, traffic, distance and applicable road tolls.
Do not accept unsolicited rides from people approaching passengers inside the arrivals hall.
Most taxi drivers do not speak much English, so keep your hotel's Chinese name and address on your phone.
PEK Option 3: DiDi
DiDi is useful if you prefer to enter your destination in the app and see the estimated fare before the journey. Beijing airports use designated ride-hailing pickup areas, so follow the app and airport signs after booking.
Foreign travelers can use DiDi with foreign mobile numbers, and supported international payment cards can be used through the app or connected payment services.
PEK Option 4: Pre-Booked Private Transfer
A pre-booked private transfer removes the need to find a taxi rank, locate a ride-hailing pickup point, or make a rail connection after arrival. The pickup details and vehicle are arranged before you travel.
This is most useful for families, groups, travelers with several suitcases, late arrivals, business travelers, and anyone continuing directly to an out-of-city destination.
See vehicles and current Beijing driver rates →
From Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Daxing Airport is farther south of central Beijing, but its dedicated airport express makes the first part of the journey fast and predictable.
PKX Option 1: Daxing Airport Express
The Daxing Airport Express connects the airport with Caoqiao.
The standard fare for the full trip from Daxing Airport to Caoqiao is 35 RMB per person.
From Caoqiao, continue by subway, taxi or DiDi to your final destination. The rail section itself is fast, but the total airport-to-hotel journey depends on where you are staying in Beijing.
Best for:
- Daytime arrivals
- Travelers staying in southern or central Beijing
- Travelers comfortable making one onward connection
- Visitors who want predictable rail timing
Less convenient for:
- Hotels far north or east
- Heavy luggage
- Families wanting door-to-door transport
- Late arrivals after rail service
*Current fare reference: Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport. Check current operating hours before travel.*
PKX Option 2: Official Taxi
Official taxis are available from Daxing Airport and provide direct transport to your destination. Because PKX is south of Beijing, road journeys to central, northern and eastern districts can be substantially longer than the airport-express rail segment.
Use the official taxi area and keep your destination written in Chinese.
PKX Option 3: DiDi
DiDi is practical when you want door-to-door service and prefer entering the destination digitally rather than explaining it to a driver. Follow the airport's designated ride-hailing pickup instructions in the app.
PKX Option 4: Pre-Booked Private Transfer
A pre-booked transfer is useful when you want the vehicle arranged before landing, particularly for families, business travelers, larger groups, heavy luggage, late arrivals or multi-stop schedules.
Because Daxing Airport is farther from many central Beijing districts, always confirm the airport code when requesting a quote.
Check Beijing private driver options →
Taxi vs DiDi vs Private Transfer
All three options can take you directly from the airport to your hotel. The difference is mainly how the ride is arranged.
| Official Taxi | DiDi | Pre-Booked Private Transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking | Join official airport queue | Book after arrival in app | Arranged before arrival |
| Price | Metered | App estimate / quoted fare | Fixed quote before booking |
| Destination | Show address to driver | Enter in app | Confirmed before arrival |
| Pickup | Taxi rank | Designated ride-hailing area | Confirmed meeting instructions |
| English coordination | Usually limited | App reduces language issue | DragonTrail coordinates in English |
| Best for | Straightforward city rides | App-comfortable travelers | Families, groups, luggage, business and planned schedules |
If your only requirement is a straightforward airport-to-hotel ride, an official taxi or DiDi may be sufficient. A pre-booked private vehicle becomes more useful when the transfer is part of a larger schedule — for example an airport pickup followed by meetings, sightseeing, the Great Wall, another airport, or several stops.
Late-Night Arrivals in Beijing
Do not assume the airport express will still be operating when a late international flight clears immigration.
If rail service has finished, the practical choices are usually:
- official airport taxi
- DiDi or another licensed ride-hailing service
- pre-booked private transfer
- selected airport shuttle-bus services
Beijing has expanded late-night and 24-hour airport-bus coverage, but not every route operates all night and routes can change. Check the current airport-bus schedule for your arrival date rather than relying on an old timetable.
For a very late arrival, door-to-door transport is usually simpler than taking a night bus and then arranging another connection from its city stop.
Which Beijing Airport Transfer Fits Your Trip?
Choose the Airport Express if
- You arrive while the line is operating
- Your luggage is manageable
- Your hotel is convenient from Dongzhimen, Sanyuanqiao or Caoqiao
- Cost and predictable timing matter more than door-to-door convenience
Choose an Official Taxi if
- You want a direct ride
- You are comfortable joining the airport taxi queue
- Your destination is easy to show in Chinese
- You do not need the ride arranged in advance
Choose DiDi if
- You already use Alipay, WeChat or the DiDi app
- You prefer entering the destination digitally
- You are comfortable finding the designated airport pickup area
- You want an estimated price before pickup
Choose a Private Transfer if
- You want the pickup arranged before landing
- You have children, elderly travelers or several suitcases
- You are traveling in a larger group
- You arrive very early or late
- You have business meetings or multiple stops
- You are traveling directly to the Great Wall or another destination outside central Beijing
Need a vehicle waiting for your flight?
See Beijing Private Driver Service
View airport, business, sightseeing and full-day vehicle options.
Airport Transfer to Popular Beijing Areas
The correct transfer method depends on the final neighborhood, not only the airport.
| Destination | From PEK | From PKX |
|---|---|---|
| Wangfujing / Dongcheng | Airport Express to Dongzhimen, then metro/taxi; or direct car | Daxing Express to Caoqiao, then metro/taxi; or direct car |
| Sanlitun / Embassy Area | Airport Express via Sanyuanqiao or Dongzhimen; taxi/DiDi also practical | Express to Caoqiao plus onward connection, or direct car |
| Tiananmen / Forbidden City area | Airport Express plus metro/taxi, or direct car | Daxing Express plus metro/taxi, or direct car |
| Beijing South Railway Station | Rail/metro connection or direct car | Rail/metro connection or direct car |
| Hotel with several large bags | Direct taxi, DiDi or private transfer | Direct taxi, DiDi or private transfer |
Beijing Airport to the Great Wall
If you are going directly from the airport to the Great Wall, do not route yourself through central Beijing first unless your itinerary requires it.
Mutianyu is particularly practical from Beijing Capital Airport because PEK is on the northeastern side of Beijing. Daxing Airport is much farther south, so the same trip requires substantially more road time.
For a same-day layover, airport return timing matters more than finding the cheapest one-way transport.
Beijing Airport → Mutianyu Great Wall — PEK vs PKX, layover timing, airport buffers and practical transfer options.
Planning from a Beijing hotel instead? How to Visit the Great Wall from Beijing
If you are connecting through Beijing rather than staying overnight, see our Beijing Layover Guide.
Payment, Apps and Practical Arrival Tips
A few preparations make Beijing airport transfers considerably easier.
Save your destination in Chinese
Keep the Chinese hotel name and full address on your phone. This is especially useful when taking a taxi.
Set up mobile payment before arrival
Alipay and WeChat Pay support international travelers and can be used for many transport services. DiDi also supports foreign users and an English-language interface.
Use official pickup areas
For taxis, follow airport signs to the official taxi rank. For DiDi, follow the designated ride-hailing pickup instructions shown in the app and at the airport.
Check transport hours on your travel date
Airport-express and shuttle-bus timetables can change. Use current airport information rather than a timetable copied months earlier.
Ask the Beijing Service counter if needed
Both airports provide services for international arrivals, including assistance with transportation and payment-related questions.
Prefer to Arrange the Airport Pickup Before You Land?
DragonTrail can arrange a private vehicle and driver from either Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX), with the vehicle matched to your group and luggage.
Airport pickup can also be combined with business meetings, sightseeing, the Great Wall, another railway station, or additional stops.
Private driver means vehicle + driver. A licensed sightseeing guide is separate unless specifically included in your quote.
Beijing Airport Transfer FAQ
- Yes. Beijing Capital International Airport uses the code PEK and is northeast of central Beijing. Beijing Daxing International Airport uses the code PKX and is south of the city. Always check the airport code on your flight booking before planning your transfer.
- The main options are the Capital Airport Express, official taxi, DiDi, airport bus, or a pre-booked private transfer. The Airport Express costs 25 RMB and connects PEK with Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen.
- The Daxing Airport Express runs from PKX to Caoqiao, where you can continue by subway or taxi. The standard fare for the full airport-to-Caoqiao journey is 35 RMB. Taxi, DiDi, airport bus and private transfer are also available.
- Yes. DiDi supports foreign mobile phone numbers and provides an English-language interface. Foreign travelers can also use supported international payment cards and services such as Alipay or WeChat Pay.
- For a straightforward airport-to-hotel ride, an official taxi or DiDi may be sufficient. A pre-booked private transfer is more useful when you want pickup arranged before arrival, have several bags or a larger group, arrive very late, or need additional stops.
- Usually not. The airport express lines take you to city interchange stations. From PEK, common transfer points include Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen. From PKX, the airport express reaches Caoqiao. Most travelers then continue by subway, taxi or ride-hailing.
- A direct taxi, DiDi or pre-booked private vehicle avoids changing trains with luggage. Which one makes sense depends on your group size, arrival time and whether you want the ride arranged in advance.
- Yes. Direct road transfer is possible from both PEK and PKX. PEK is considerably more convenient for Mutianyu because Capital Airport is on the northeastern side of Beijing. Travelers on a layover should plan the return-to-airport buffer carefully.
- After airport rail service ends, use an official taxi, DiDi, a pre-booked private transfer, or a suitable late-night airport bus. Some airport-bus routes now operate around the clock, but route and timetable details should be checked for your arrival date.
Official Transport References
Transport fares, routes and operating hours can change. Key transport information on this page was checked against official Beijing transportation and airport resources.
- Beijing International Web Portal — PEK Airport to City
- Beijing International Web Portal — PKX Airport to City
- Beijing Subway / Beijing Municipal Government — subway fares
- Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport — Daxing Airport Express fares
- Beijing airport-bus service updates
Last checked: September 2026